Talk about Christmas blues - Ramnaresh Sarwan is probably coloured from head to toe by now.
Having being encouraged and anointed as the next West Indies captain in waiting, his unceremonious sacking as vice-captain can be seen as another ghastly West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) decision.
Even before the delight could dissipate, Sarwan was dumped from the position he held on the title winning Champions Trophy team before they bowled another ball in West Indies colours.
By now knowledge of the nasty standoff (between the WICB and the players, Sarwan included) being the cause of the player's demotion, should be as old as the hills.
And true to form, the WICB has provided no explanation to the thousands of supporters across the region and around the world, for its unexpected and seemingly unjust decision.
Very likely, President Teddy Griffith and company could be assuming that everyone is aware that Sarwan's sacking was not a cricket decision.
However, the WICB must appreciate its responsibility to officially explain such actions to the fans, whose hard earned cash it depends on to sustain its very existence, and on whom Digicel, its new sponsor, is relying to sell telecommunication services to make their investment worth the 20 million bucks.
Sarwan is a well-liked player, not only for his boyish looks, but because he is one of the team's best batsmen and was fast acquiring the qualities of a good vice-captain.As such, there can be no more compelling reason for an explanation.
One cannot demand much more from Sarwan, who has always served his team with unswerving dedication. Therefore, to slap him in the face with such severity is wrong, as he was merely standing up for his rights when he refused to give up his endorsement value for nothing.
When he declined to sign the contract for this VB competition, like captain Brian Lara, Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, because of their prior endorsement deals with Digicel's competitor, Cable and Wireless, Sarwan chose to respect his worth and not bow to the WICB and become another yes man.
And it is foolish for the WICB to strike back, because captain Lara remained untouched and the players' actions were vindicated by the judgment of Justice Adrian Saunders.
It is ridiculous that the board had the nerve to retort, because they were the ones who accepted Grenada's Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell, as the mediator, and raised no objection when Justice Saunders was made arbitrator.
Instead, the WICB ought to apologize for its threats to axe the dissenting players and get on with the task of doing a better job in the administration of West Indies cricket.
But for now, their job seems merely to jump to every Digicel whim.
Throughout the talks' ordeal between the WICB and the West Indies Players Association, there were rumblings of Digicel pressuring the former to remove Lara as captain.
It is often said "where there is smoke there is fire," and from all appearances, the board was forced into a concession to make Sarwan the fall guy instead.
Of course, tampering with Lara's status was suicidal.
Apart from being the team's most valuable player, who keeps the ground turnstiles moving non-stop wherever he plays, and who consistently made the Board's job of acquiring team sponsorship easy over the years, Digicel included, Lara has become one of the most powerful influences in West Indies cricket.
And he is not averse to making threats either.
Ten years ago, he refused to tour Australia for a similar one-day series as the VB, in protest of being fined for an offence during the previous England tour.
We all remember the standoff he spearheaded on behalf of the team prior to the maiden South Africa tour in 1998, and only recently, his vow to quit the captaincy if West Indies did not defeat Bangladesh in May.
It explains why Lara cannot be touched as his ego would not tolerate any unjustified disciplinary measure, as he interprets it. And any stand he takes would be supported by the 11 players in the touring squad of 14, as was the case initially.
Rather, the board would prefer not to face the wrath of the West Indies' public, the Australia board and an ICC two million-dollar fine for a squashed tour, given the Australian's demand for nothing less than the best team.
Also, Sarwan's demotion would make the Guyana Cricket Board's choice of team captain less problematic in light of Chanderpaul's appointment ahead of Sarwan the last two years.
This turn of events also shows up the WIPA, who has not uttered a protest on Sarwan's behalf, which could easily be construed that the Dinanath Ramnarine-led association is all about money issues only.Their silence is deafening, but the WICB's is worse.
Not for the first time, fans are left to arrive at their own conclusions. Many could conclude that Sarwan's stripping could be part of a deal struck between the WIPA and the WICB on Digicel's behalf.
Relinquish the vice-captaincy and keep Cable and Wireless' money, could've been the clincher. But it still remains speculation, and unless the WICB comes clean, the majority of fans would continue to accuse the board of unjustifiable wrongdoing to one of its favourite players.