BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Regional players’ union WIPA has accused West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) chief executive Ernest Hilaire of putting the regional team at risk with his recent ill-advised, controversial comments.

Describing Hilaire’s statements regarding the standard of West Indies cricketers as “shocking” and “misplaced”, WIPA contended they could prove detrimental to the players both on and off the field.

Hilaire was speaking in Barbados last week during a panel discussion which also involved principal of the UWI Cave Hill Campus, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles; Dr Justin Robinson and former Cricket World Cup chairman Rawle Brancker.

“Dr Hilaire’s words put West Indian players at risk of disrespect both at home and abroad. The world has been told that some West Indian players are uneducated, unable to compete on the world stage effectively, mercenary and incapable of improvement,” WIPA chief executive Dinanath Ramnarine said in a statement on Monday.

“Obviously all players need the support of their Board but this CEO has certainly given the impression that the WICB may have written off some of the region’s players.

“This has serious implications with the most immediate being that the CEO of the Board has literally given to the opposition words of contempt to be uttered on and off the field as a psychological tool against the West Indies.

“It is difficult to conceive of Dr Hilaire’s counterparts anywhere in the cricketing world acting in such a manner.”

He added: “Equally shocking is the fact that the CEO of the WICB made such remarks in a public forum particularly in the middle of an international series.”

West Indies are currently 0-4 down to South Africa in a five-match one-day series and are scheduled to face the Proteas in a three-match Test series later this month.

Ramnarine, who also serves as WIPA president, also slammed Hilaire’s comments pointed at young West Indies players, noting that any deficiency in these players highlighted failure on the part of the WICB.

“Even the future players did not escape Dr Hilaire’s utterances as he stated that half of the Under-19 players could barely read or write,” Ramnarine contended.

“What he did not comment on were the findings as to the performance of West Indian junior teams including the Under-19s, which have been creditable, and why no solution has been found over the last 15 years to deal with the obvious problems these young cricketers encounter as they move from the junior to the senior level.

“The WICB is charged with providing such a solution and has failed and continues to flounder in bridging the gap as these young cricketers try to go to the next level.”

He argued: “Does Dr Hilaire know that the overall literacy level of Under-19 cricketers from other Test playing countries is any different or is it that those cricket boards have done their jobs and crafted the environment for success for all of its players?”

Ramnarine, who was at the forefront of a bitter contracts dispute with the WICB last year, also said Hilaire’s statements were a reflection of the regional board.

“Ironically, Dr Hilaire’s words point to a failure of the very institution that employs him since it is the WICB who has the mandate to develop cricket [and by necessity cricketers] in the region,” Ramnarine pointed out.

“If, as he says, an academy was needed for the last ten years, and the WICB has not created one — despite the recommendation of many including the Patterson Report — the question which naturally arises is whether the Board has been doing its job.”

Ramnarine charged that Hilaire and the WICB owed regional players an apology.

“That is the very least that they can do. Dr Hilaire has spoken and in so doing has highlighted serious deficiencies and shortcomings of the WICB,” said the former West Indies leg-spinner.

In the panel discussion, Hilaire gave a bleak outlook on West Indies cricket, contending that things would get worse before they improved.