Source: Barbados Today
By Morissa Lindsay
Veteran regional and international West Indies cricket commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira believes that the management of Cricket West Indies (CWI) may need to find out the “real reason” for Deandra Dottin’s resignation if they haven’t done so already.
Perreira’s is questioning whether CWI Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams as well as lead selector for women’s cricket in the region Ann Browne-John have spoken directly to Dottin to find out the root cause for her sudden resignation.
Perreira explained that while he read Jimmy Adams’ statement which wished the Barbadian-born Dottin well in her endeavours, he would also like to believe that the management of CWI did more to find out the real reason behind her sudden resignation.
“I did read the Jimmy Adams statement which you would expect when an outstanding player leaves the game of West Indies cricket. No doubt at age 31 she had a great deal to offer for maybe the next four years, she can now offer that to Barbados and all the other franchises.
“It is a great loss and as I read Jimmy Adams’ statement I need to ask these questions. Did Jimmy Adams meet with Deandra Dottin? Did he call Deandra Dottin to find out what were the issues that she referred to when she announced her retirement?
“I think that is very important and I would like to believe that Jimmy did reach Dottin and further did he in fact reach lead selector Ann Browne-John and asked her any relevant questions; seek any information about Dottin’s decision. Did Ann Browne have any idea what would have caused her (Dottin) to make what seems to be a rash decision,” Perreira said.
He added: “Did anyone try to talk her out of that kind of major loss to the West Indies squad? I think it is important that we really dig a little deeper beyond the West Indies board thanking Deandra Dottin for her contribution and outstanding services.”
Perreira is of the view that if CWI does not get to the bottom of this situation as it relates to Dottin, then it could become problematic in the future where more players may follow suit and resign from the regional side.
Dottin, one of West Indies’ greatest female all-rounders, played for 14 years after debuting against Ireland in June 2008. She scored 3, 727 runs in 143 ODIs with a career-best of 150 not out and took 72 wickets with 5-34 her best figures. In T20 cricket, Dottin played 124 matches scoring 2,681 runs including two centuries and took 62 wickets with best figures of 5-5. (morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb)