WEST INDIES cricket hero Sir Vivian Richards has called on Caribbean governments to get involved in West Indies cricket and try to rebuild the team into world beaters. The former batting genius emphasised the importance of cricket to the social and economic lives of individual countries and urged the regional leaders to take a more active position to ensure the survival and healing of what was firmly the region's number one sport. Sir Viv lamented the 'ineptitude' of the current West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) administration and said it was time for them to go. PUNCHES Never one to hold punches, he slammed the current administration, labeling them as "selfish and opportunistic." The Master Blaster held nothing back as he spoke to The Voice in London following the West Indies' embarrassment against Australia in the recent series where they suffered heavy defeats in all three Tests. He said the team was lacking confidence and it needed the help of individuals who can induce a sense of pride and achievement in order to do well. "In order to create confidence there are many individuals who are in administrative roles in West Indies cricket who need to vacate their positions," said Richards. "What we are seeing on the field is a result of administrative failures. As long as that problem remains the belief factor among the players will be minimal." He added: "There seems to be no desire to win at the boardroom level. Results don't matter. And there are people there who are just hanging on until after the World Cup in 2007. They should vacate their positions now and not drag West Indies cricket down any further." Asked whether West Indies could get any worse than what is being displayed now, Sir Viv was less than hopeful. IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE "If we keep these individuals running our affairs we will only get worse. We need leaders in every department and the evidence is there that those who are now required to carry out certain functions are just not up to the jobs." West Indies cricket administration experienced its most embarrassing ordeal recently when contractual disputes between the WICB, the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and telecom companies Cable and Wireless and Digicel led to the senior players being excluded from the squad that toured Sri Lanka. The WICB has been roundly criticised over its handling of the affair. Sir Viv believes that strong and decisive leadership would have resolved those issues. Sir Viv, who previously had a brief stint as coach, indicated his willingness to serve West Indies cricket once more. "I am willing to accept any opportunity that presents itself. When I was involved there were many decisions that I wanted to take but I did not get the support. That was why we were not clicking as a unit. I am deeply concerned about the path we are taking at the minute. Everyone is hoping that we will host a good World Cup and that the West Indies will do well. But what will happen after that? We need a fresh administration at this point that will have to look beyond 2007 and create the vision which will put West Indies cricket where we should be in world cricket." Reprinted from thevoiceonline.com