Manders Issues Blistering Critique of BCB Leadership
IslandStats.com
With the BCB executive yet to respond to islandstats.com, the pressure continues to mount for a resolution to the ongoing leadership crisis before the first ball of the summer is bowled.
Former Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) President Arnold Manders has delivered a stark warning about the future of the sport on the island, claiming that without immediate intervention, cricket in Bermuda could vanish within the next 15 years.
Manders, who served as president from 2020 until December 2023, voiced his deep frustration with the current executive under Lloyd Smith, citing a catastrophic loss of international funding and a breakdown in high-performance standards.
The former president did not mince words when discussing the current leadership’s handling of the national program. With a major T20 World Cup Qualifier looming in just eight weeks, Manders expressed serious concern over the lack of preparation and plunging player morale.
"I’m not surprised because I think if you look at both Mr. Blankendal and President Smith, I think they don’t have the knowledge in order to be talking about high-performance cricket," Manders stated. "Previously, we’ve always been able to start training months before a tournament."
Manders’ critique follows reports of administrative chaos within the BCB, including a highly publicized fallout over a coaching panel where legends like Janeiro Tucker denied any formal involvement.
The most alarming revelation from Manders concerned the board's financial health. He claimed that the BCB has lost its vital ICC funding and has seen its charity status lapse, effectively cutting off both international and domestic revenue streams.
"The BCB now has no funding from ICC, and the current executive has let their charity status fall away," Manders explained. "There is no money in the kitty. Not having money is a fault of the president, the CEO, and the executive."
Drawing a painful comparison to the decline of softball in Bermuda, Manders warned that cricket is following the same trajectory. He argued that the current predicament is the fault of the clubs, who he claims voted for the current leadership despite the warning signs.
"Remember, we were the 'Big Blue Machine.' We were the best in this region... Where’s softball now?" he asked. "If it’s not sorted and sorted quickly, I can see cricket not being around in 15 years."
Despite his current disillusionment, Manders did not entirely rule out a return to the helm if no other viable candidates step forward to save the sport that "did a lot for him" as a person.
"I don’t know if I could put myself back out there and have the same thing happen again," he admitted. "But it’s something I would think about... if nobody else comes forward, I guess I’d have to put my foot in the door and try to do something to help."
