BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) - Experienced middle-order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan was confirmed yesterday as the new West Indies captain. His appointment was unanimously agreed on by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) during a special board meeting at the upscale north coast Almond Beach Resort hotel in the parish of St Peter here. Sarwan, a 26-year-old Guyanese and veteran of 65 Tests and 124 One-Day Internationals, was recommended by the selection panel of chairman Gordon Greenidge, Andy Roberts and Clyde Butts to take over from batting genius Brian Lara, who dramatically retired from international cricket on April 21 - a couple weeks before his 38th birthday. Sarwan and the Trinidad and Tobago captain Daren Ganga were the leading candidates for the job. Sarwan made his Test debut against Pakistan in Barbados in May 2000. He took over as Lara's vice-captain in March 2003 and scored his first Test century after 28 matches and 49 innings - 119 in December 2002. Sarwan is reported to be in Miami and is expected to join the selectors in Antigua - headquarters of the WICB - tomorrow to pick the squad for the May 12 to July 7 tour of England which includes four Tests, two 20/20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals. The squad is to leave the Caribbean on May 8. The special meeting was continuing into the evening yesterday with several other issues being addressed, including the appointment of a coach and management team for the tour to England and discussions relating to negotiations with the West Indies Players Association (WIPA). Australian Bennett King resigned as coach last week following the West Indies' disappointing showing in the just-concluded ninth World Cup in the Caribbean during which they finished sixth. King, who was coach since December 2004 and whose contract was to expire in November 2007, will continue to work until May 31 in helping to set up an academy. Also on the agenda of yesterday's meeting, was the offer last month by WICB President Ken Gordon to resign. If Gordon resigns, it is expected that Banks will act as president until June when a new president will be elected. A report on the setting up, location and funding of the academy was also on the agenda. Reprinted from jamaicaobserver.com