VINODE MAMCHAN
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is continuing their zero tolerance approach as far as discipline is concerned with the regional cricketers.At their quarterly board meeting which ended on the weekend at the Accra Beach Hotel in Barbados they made it clear that players will have to abide by strict team policies or suffer the consequence.
Team policies will be strictly enforced following a thorough review (legal and otherwise) for compliance with the various obligations of the WICB, and the coach and manager will be given the resources they need to adopt a "no-come-back" (zero tolerance) environment.Members of the West Indies team will also be instructed about their ambassadorial role for the region, reflecting the highest possible standards of professionalism, both on and off the field.
In this regard, the WICB will produce a video alongside the player booklet currently being published. The video–like the booklet–would outline the goals and responsibilities of players, and give a historical overview of West Indies cricket, as well as use former players to deliver some of the content.
Other decisions coming out of the meeting includes, confirmation that the West Indies team will take part in a three-nation series with Zimbabwe and Pakistan in Zimbabwe. This will take place in mid-August/September this year. Further details will be disclosed later.The Directors have approved a recommendation for minimum qualification standards for WICB Professional Cricket League franchise coaches and physiotherapists.
Franchise coaches must hold (at a minimum) Level 2 certification to be qualified to Level 3 within three months of appointment. The franchise coaches should be professionally qualified and competent to support the franchise players with the technical, mental and physical skills to improve their games and, by extension, that of the team and West Indies cricket system.
Franchise physiotherapists must be qualified with a Masters in Sports Medicine Physiotherapy, if this not available, then a physiotherapist experienced in cricket, then in sports to ensure the highest quality of medical support for our players.Franchises have been encouraged to work out a reasonable remuneration package with their selectors. They must also present a player induction plan to address and alleviate the issues experienced by players who relocated in the last season.
Meanwhile, a match fee system will be introduced to the Regional Women's Tournament for the first time this coming season.Also, the Directors approved a recommendation from the Cricket Committee to assist with the development of the women's game in the Leeward Islands.In the short term, a cross section of the second-best 11 players in the region will join a core group of women from the Leewards, who will be scouted from various softball tournaments in the territory, to form a team to play in next year's regional tournament.
Consequently, WICB Management has been asked to work with the Leeward Islands Cricket Association in its quest to develop this concept and further the game among the women in that territory.The Cricket Committee has been asked to make further recommendations to prioritise the development of fast bowlers in the region and for the West Indies team, recognising that the majority of the overs in regional tournaments are bowled by spinners and is impacting negatively on the production of fast bowlers for the West Indies team.
A player ranking system for the WICB Professional Cricket League will be developed after further consultations internally and with the West Indies Players Association to guide the award of contracts which are commensurate with the performance of players and protects against sentiment or favouritism.
There was good news for umpires as the directors agreed to an increase of match fees and allowances for umpires on the Regional "B" Panel has been approved, helping to address the imbalance and inequity of payments between them and the "A" Panel.