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The West Indies Cricket Board and its selectors on Monday set a precedent they may live to regret.

In re-appointing Brian Lara as captain of the West Indies team, be it for two matches, for the entire series as expected it will be, or for the rest of his life, the board and its selectors have not only bowed to indiscipline, they have not only presented themselves as apostles of winning at all cost or people who are afraid to act, but they have also anointed Lara as the undisputed ruler of West Indies cricket.

Based on the history of the board, the type of cover-up reports usually tabled by managers and coaches and the complement of the selection committee which, in Joey Carew, includes Lara's mentor, the decision to retain Lara as captain was not surprising. It was, however, disappointing.

It was disappointing because of Lara's embarrassing part in the strike which preceded the tour to South Africa, it was disappointing because of his attitude which, more than anyone else's, contributed to the low morale of the team in South Africa, it was disappointing because of the embarrassment suffered by the West Indian people and it was disappointing that because of the strike, because of the rift and what happened in South Africa, the board had lost its sponsors for the World Cup.

It was also disappointing because the reading of every card suggested that regardless of Lara's great achievements as a batsman and forgetting his failures on the field in South Africa, despite his potential as a tactician, in the interest of West Indies cricket, the time had come for a change.

The time obviously had not come - not for a board or a set of selectors who, probably after looking at the likes of Carl Hooper, James Adams and Ian Bishop and deciding that none of them was an ideal choice, and after pondering whether the indispensable Lara would condescend to play if he were replaced as captain, sacrificed their principles on the altar of winning.

According to Pat Rousseau, president of the board, it was a cricketing decision, it was the recommendation of the selectors as they prepare for a series against the world's best team and the board and selectors value Mr. Lara's outstanding cricket ability.

Whether they want to accept it or not, that explains what happened in Antigua. As someone once said, winning is not all - winning is everything.