CHARLESTOWN, Nevis, August 5, 2010 - Wasim Mintos and his step dad Errol Somersall believe that the young cricketer has received a raw deal at the hands of the management team in charge of the Leeward Islands under 19 team presently in St.Lucia. Young Mintos was unceremoniously sent back home on the evening of Friday, 30th July.
An email correspondence sent by Roland Holder of the West Indies Cricket Board to LICA Board President Gregory Shillingford and copied to Nevis Cricket chief, Ronald Powell, indicated in part: “...that as a result of a disciplinary infraction involving Wasim Mintos a hearing was held and it was determined that he should be returned home to Nevis”.
In an exclusive interview yesterday with Sports caster Curtis Morton, Mintos accompanied by his step dad, Errol Somersall sought to give his version of the incident.
He explained that on the evening of Thursday 29th July, some of his team mates came into the hotel room with lots of mud on their shoes. They proceeded to wash off the mud in the hand sink and in the shower. During this time, he (Mintos) exited the room. On his return he was shocked to discover one of his shirts lying on the floor, soaked with water and mud.
He stated: “I said a few words because I was angry”. One of the guys who he was addressing was on the phone with his mom and apparently she heard what was being said and later called Coach Winston Benjamin and complained of his behaviour.
According to Mintos, Benjamin never gave him the chance to explain himself but told him that he would be sent home. He further indicated that it was while he was on the way to the airport, the Manager asked him what had happened and when he explained, the Manger stated that he would not have sent him home for that "as the other guys swear too".
He however indicated that he had apologized to the team and its Management before he came home.
Errol Somersall, who has assisted in the raising of Mintos from a little child, was very upset. He stated that up to the point of the interview nobody in authority had called either him or Mintos’ mother to indicate what he had done. He was also upset at the way a seventeen-year-old youngster was just placed on a plane just like that and sent back to Nevis without contact made with his parents.
Somersall, who has served in a managerial position for various Nevis teams, is also appalled that such a crucial decision as a player being sent home was apparently made single handily by the Coach of the team. “That’s not proper management,’ he observed.
He indicated that he has already expressed his displeasure through Mr. Ronald Powell, President of the Nevis Crciket Association, who indicated that he is investigating the matter. He also indicated that he had chastised Mintos for using expletives but is definitely unhappy with how the matter was handled.
President Powell, when contacted, indicated that when he saw Wasim in town over the holiday weekend, he assumed that the Leeward Islands team had completed the tournament. He did not see the correspondence from Roland Holder until he got home that same evening. He has since sent a correspondence to President of LICA, Mr. Gregory Shillingford seeking clarification on the matter and has specifically asked for a copy of the management report on the incident.
Mintos, who played a few matches in the TCL tournament, indicated that he was having a good tournament prior to the incident. He especially loved his innings of a half century which he made batting at number ten, when he hit 6 sixes and 3 fours. “The ball was coming nicely out of the middle of the bat;” he stated.
What’s next for the young cricketer? He plans to report to the Nevis senior team practice sessions starting next week and looks forward to at least one more year at the under 19 level, if given the chance next year.
‘Something like this won’t happen again’, he stated with conviction.
