ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) - Dr Michael Seepersaud, the Chief Cricket
Development Officer of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), has expressed surprise at a media report which surfaced in Jamaica that West Indies fast bowler Jermaine Lawson has been "cleared" by the International Cricket Council to return to international cricket.
"We are still at stage one which is entirely under the purview of the WICB," Dr Seepersaud explained.
"The question of clearance by ICC is not applicable since Jermaine was never banned or prevented from playing by the ICC,” the WICB official said.
“After the report was made, Jermaine was eligible to continue playing international cricket until the review process was completed, he did not play only because of the injury to his lower back," Dr Seepersaud clarified.
The WICB executive explained that the ICC would only get involved if Lawson returns to international cricket and he is either called or reported for a second time. Such a situation, which the WICB is working to prevent, would then constitute stage two that the ICC would be entirely responsible for.
The WICB's Bowling Review Committee is awaiting Lawson’s recovery from his back injury so that they can make an assessment based on his on-field performance.
This would be the final step in stage one of the process.
Once stage one is completed, there will be no need for stage two unless Lawson is called or reported for a suspect action a second time.