CRICKET Support for Kallicharran from Barbadian press
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from October 1981.
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With Caribbean governments firm opponents of the apartheid system in South Africa, both in practice and vocally at internationally gatherings of world leaders, the hailstorm of condemnations from the press and organisations was expected.
But some Barbadian journalists stoutly agreed with Kallicharran's move to secure a reported 65,000 dollars (US) at a time when his future test career was in serious doubt and his form with English county club Warwickshire was not the best.
Three Barbadian sports journalists, sports editors Don Norville of the Daily "Nation" newspaper, veteran Les Harris of Barbados Rediffusion Limited and sports writer Aldon Browne of the Daily "Advocate" New agreed with the view that Kallicharran took a wise decision to secure sizeable funds for his family's future. But regardless of the pros and cons, the West Indies Cricket Board of Control made it clear that Kallicharran, once a brilliant lefthandsbatsman, had killed any possibilities that existed of his playing his 67th test match.
Even before Kallicharran arrived in Johannesburg Thursday, WICBC President Trinidadian Jeffery Stollmeyer stated, "We have said clearly that if any of our players went to South Africa, they could not expect to be selected for the West Indies team.'
So Kallicharran, who declined lucrative contracts when the cream of the West Indies cricketers broke temporarily with the WICBC and joined World Series Cricket venture during 1978-79, knew his fate the next day. A deluge of criticisms was hurled at the Guyanese with all the adjectives usually associated with government ministers at the United Nations meetings and non-aligned ministers conferences.
Today, Barbadian Tony Cozier, editor of the "Nation" newspaper and a respected commentator on cricket, declared "He (Kallicharran) will no longer be regarded as the great left-hand batsman he undoubtedly was during his lengthy career but rather a traitor to the cause of racial equality."
Cozier said Kallicharran's move demonstrated a selfish attitude Kallicharran will have to live with for the rest of his life.
Guyanese journalist Joseph Pereira said Kallicharran "had never been a strong Caribbean person with any commitment to the region." And Jamaican sports writer Marina Buchanan suggested taht there "must have been a less notorious and disillusioning way to make an exit."
The Jamaica "Daily News" observed, "It is one thing to have money. It is another to be a man."
Over in St. Vincent, the secretary of that island's cricket association, Osbourne Browne, said, "Kallicharran's decision is nothing more than a slap in the face to the West Indies cricket board of control and all those who advocate the isolation of South Africa from the cricketing world."
Before that, however, the Guyana government had made it clear that while Kallicharran, a resident in England, could come and go to Guyana as he wished, his days of representing Guyana or playing any type of sport in his homeland were over. Many critics condemned his move as a blow to Caribbean leaders who are meeting for the Commonwealth Heads of Government conference in Australia at a time when the New Zealand government is under severe pressure from other government who have criticised the recent South Africa rugby team's tour of New Zealand.
But there was support too from Barbadian sports editors Norville, Harris and sports writer Browne who contended that Kallicharran had to think about his future and should not be condemned for accepting the 65,000 dollars (US).
"He is no longer a certainty on the West Indies side and therefore if he can see some good financial returns why not go for for it?" asked Harris, a veteran cricket journalist.
Norvill said he agreed with Kallicharran, adding that at 32 years old he still had a long life ahead of him and should prepare for it.
And Browne suggested that Kallicharran, had lost from not participating in the Kerry Packer series, sponsored by the Australian millionaire, Kerry Packer.
He said Kallicharran would have been foolish not to accept the contract and must have believed that he did not want to be among those West Indian cricketers who "died poor."
In essence, the comments centred on whether it was worth it to the Guyanese test reject to take the money and think about himself and his family in England only, or whether he should have declined to spark off the main topic around the Caribbean.
