Wes Hall to stand down as WICB president

The Reverend Wes Hall will step down from his role as president of the West Indies Cricket Board on health grounds within the next few days, according to a report in yesterday's Barbados-based Sunday Sun newspaper.

Hall is understood to have advised all the various members of the board of his decision, and the timing of his decision means that a new president can be chosen at the board's AGM in Dominica next month.

Hall, 65, took over in July 2001 at a time West Indies cricket was suffering from infighting. His predecessor, Pat Rousseau, had resigned following a decision to reinstate team manager, Ricky Skerritt, who had been fired. In his two years at the helm, Hall was instrumental in getting the 2007 World Cup awarded to the Caribbean.

It is unclear who will emerge as Hall's likely successor. Val Banks, the current WICB vice-president, is not thought to be interested. Some reports have indicated that Tony Marshall, a former president of the Barbados Cricket Association and a WICB director, might throw his hat into the ring.