Newly-elected president of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association, Kishore Shallow, says he will meet with his executive this week to decide on the way forward for the sport.
Shallow was elected, unopposed, to lead the organisation on Saturday after a special meeting voted 65 ballots to 25 to end Julian Jack 9-year stint at the helm.
Shallow, who was assistant secretary on Jack’s executive – and two other of his colleagues — Denis Byam and Deighton Butler — resigned ahead of the vote on Saturday. Byam and Butler were also elected to the new executive.
The new executive:
President: Kishore Shallow
1st Vice-President: Elson Crick
2nd Vice-President: Denis Byam
Secretary: Samuel Holder
Asst. Secretary: Cleton Burnett
Treasurer: Jerry Ollivierre
Committee Members: Romel Currency, Miles Bascombe, Deighton Butler, Samantha Lynch.
“It’s a great feeling. Obviously, getting the support of the affiliates at this age, it shows a lot of confidence in the youth and I am a firm believer in the youth, in their competence and ability going forward. So, it’s a great sign, for not only cricket but St. Vincent on a whole,” Shallow, 30, told reporters shortly after his elections.
He said he plans to have a retreat this week, during which the future of Vincentian cricket, which has seen the national Under-15 team not winning a game for over three years, and placing last for over seven consecutive years.
“One of the things we have discussed is to actually have a retreat and involve the affiliates, because it is more than just the president, more than just the executive. We have to have all the affiliates involved,” Shallow said moments after his election.
(See video: Julian Jack ousted as cricket association president)
Shallow’s admission immediately after his election to having had a discussion about the way forward, seems to give credence to the view by some Cricket Association that Shallow had planned and executed Jack’s removal and was reaping the spoils of that plan.
He dismissed this as “pure speculation”, adding, “I mean there is absolutely no truth to it.”
Shallow, however, said that he supported the petition, which ws brought by Marvin Harry, captain of Smashers cricket team.
“I think it is a timely intervention in terms of the change of St. Vincent cricket. And in terms of my involvement, it was pretty much just to support the petition, like the other 40 affiliates who signed to the document.”
Shallow also denied canvassing ahead of the vote, contrary to what a source, which indicated that Shallow had expected Jack to lose 60 votes to 30, told I-Witness News.
“Well, no; persons came and asked me if I was interested in the presidency and, of course, I told them yes, and, of course again, it’s not only about a president, because a president without a competent executive and willing to work, can’t achieve anything.
“So, it is about selecting the right team as well, and once the other guys who I believe in expressed their confidence, I said sure I am up for the challenge.”
Asked why, in light of the composition of the new executive he thinks his tenure will be different, Shallow said “It is a new leadership.”
He commended Jack on his tenure, saying, “He has served well in the past, but there comes a point when you have to move and that is the stage we are now.
“I am sure he will be lending support to the new executive in the future. But leadership is key, and with my experience, despite being a youth, I hope that the confidence and competence of myself could actually lead this executive and lead cricket in a totally new direction.”
Shallow comes to the helm at a time when St. Vincent and the Grenadines is preparing to host the Windward Islands Under-19 competition and an international match involving Bangladesh.
He was confident that his executive is up to the task.
“One of the things about the new executive, even though we use the word ‘new’, there is some continuity in the veteran Elson Crick, who is the first VP and secretary Samuel Holder, another veteran in his own right. So, I think we are more than competent to execute all these tasks ahead of us in the next few months and we are look forward to the challenge,” he said, noting that he and Byam have also been on the executive for over a year.
He further told reporters that he did not think that the no-confidence motion, the first in the history of the organisation, had resulted in a fracture.
“Sixty-five against 25 — I won’t say it was a fracture. It was s given, to be honest. It was quite obvious. I anticipated it to be just that result.
“I mean the cricketers themselves, the cricket community, they were ready for this change, I think everybody is going to work together moving ahead. It is about working collectively,” Shallow said, adding that members of Jack’s team, Radcliffe, are good friends of his.
“I expect everybody to be on board in terms of all hands on deck. I don’t think in terms of the rest of the committee, and the results will speak for that, that this is the way forward, everybody wanted this change. This is the positive way forward, and everybody should be supportive,” Shallow said.
He gave an almost accurate prediction of the vote, he also speak constantly of need for change and yet he has nothing to do with the obvious orchestrated plan to humiliate Julian Jack. I am wonder how did Mr Shallow vote? Its not all about the president he alluded. However it is quite surprising the only the president gets the blame and axe for the sad state of affairs of cricket in SVG. So was Mr Shallow , Mr Crick, and others just sit and watch cricket in SVG go down the gutters and do absolutely nothing? Was it all Jack fault? I wonder after being humiliated in this way by members of his executive including the new president, what kind of assistance is Shallow expects to get from Mr Jack? Mr Shallow resignation on the floor the very same day of the no confidence motion is solely for contesting the presidency that he campaigned for and knew he would have won. while I support change and 9 years at the helm of cricket is a long time I must agree that that Mr. Shallow was instrumental in getting rid of Julian Jack. It is too obvious. ‘Snakes’ I would have refer to the likes of him as well.
What’s all the fuss? I am an active cricketer in vincy, and regardless of election now or next year, Jack would have loss still. There is not much current cricketer that is happy with the current state of cricket.
Curtis King gave the most honest assessment in that meeting on saturday. Everyday have motives, but the fact is, nothing is being done for cricket in SVG. That’s the BOTTOM LINE!
How can Mr Jack say the government is to be blamed for the decline of U15 cricket. Another point did Vincentian forget how Julian Hunte lost the presidency for West Indies by one single vote. Ask yourself who voted against him? Who is the snake now? Remember the no confidence vote that was being planned to get rid of President Coombs of Svgff? Ask who was behind it also? What goes around comes back around. Therefore, can we say Cameron is a snake too because our president voted against
. Ah gone check me for more.