Former West Indies captain Daren Sammy was appointed an independent non-member director of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Board of Directors during a meeting of the board held last Thursday (June 17).

Sammy’s appointment is in keeping with two of the fundamental principles which have guided CWI’s improvement strategy for the past two years – increased utilisation of regional technical expertise and the implementation of a Cricket First Policy.

It is expected that Sammy’s appointment will add a fresh and more youthful perspective, as well as a high level of updated cricket know-how to enhance the existing expertise in the CWI Board room.

“It is an honour to be appointed as a CWI director. This is another great opportunity for me to give my best to West Indies cricket in a new way, off the field,” said Sammy, who is one of three independent directors approved at last Thursday’s meeting and who will serve for the next two-years, joining Trinidadian attorney Debra Coryat-Patton and Jamaican surgeon and university administrator, Dr Akshai Mansingh.

Both Coryat-Patton and Mansingh were re-appointed to serve a second term.

Sammy continued: “All my local, regional and international experiences have prepared me to make a significant ongoing impact in West Indies cricket. I am excited and thankful for the chance to serve and look forward to giving back to the sport and region that I love so much.”

Meanwhile, CWI President Ricky Skerritt was enthralled by Sammy’s appointment to the Board.

“I am delighted to welcome Daren Sammy as an independent, non-member Director whose role will be to ensure that all the right questions are being asked while contributing to the shaping of new ideas and solutions,” Skerritt said.

“Daren’s fairly recent experience as a two-time World Cup winning captain will bring with him a much needed modern-day cricketer’s perspective which should add valuable insights to Board discussions and decision-making. His appointment is testament to our commitment to strengthen CWI’s governance, and to utilize expertise from across all stakeholder groups.”

With over 14 years of international cricket experience, Sammy is celebrated by many in the region, and across the world, as a charismatic and inspirational figure, renowned for leading the West Indies to back-to-back ICC T20 World Cup titles in 2012 and 2016. Daren is the first international cricketer from his native Saint Lucia where the national stadium has been named in his honour.

He has captained the Windward Islands cricket team in addition to several domestic T20 leagues both regionally and internationally. Sammy is an awardee of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II, and a Goodwill Ambassador for St. Lucia. He is also the current Head Coach of Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League and a Cricket Consultant for the St. Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

CWI’s Articles allow for up to four non-member directors which means there is one slot remaining which the board intends to fill in the near future. All directors’ appointments will expire in 2023 at the conclusion of CWI’s Annual General Meeting of that year.