The Chairman of the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Cricket, Dr the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell, has expressed great disappointment over the West Indies Cricket Board decision to exclude the West Indies players contracted by Cable and Wireless. The Sub-Committee Chairman believes that in the interest of the 2007 Cricket World Cup and West Indies Cricket on the whole, that nothing should be done to send the wrong message about the importance of cricket and the World Cup to the regional economy and the way of life of our people. Dr. Mitchell has called on all parties to allow common sense to prevail in the interest of West Indies Cricket. Prime Minister Mitchell has also called on all parties to remember that the people of the region are the owners and chief stakeholders in West Indies cricket and that all decisions made should first consider the people and not the individual special interests of small groups or companies. The Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee Chairman regrets the course of action taken by the WICB to ignore the recommendations made by the Sub-Committee. Chairman Mitchell believes that the WICB should have explored the alternative sponsorship arrangements worked out and given to the board by the Sub-Committee, before taking any decisions which could have serious long term impacts on West Indies Cricket. Source: Prime Minister's Office