On The Cricket Pitch

WICB tightens belt ahead of World Cup

by Philip Hackett

Thursday,  December 8, 2005

Just a few weeks ago cricketers and fans throughout the region were expressing regret over the decision of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to cut the regional first class tournament in half, due to financial constraints.

Like last year, the Carib Beer Series had been structured to allow teams to play each other twice on a home and away basis but shortly before the scheduled start last month the WICB announced its decision to reduce the tournament by having teams play each other only once, followed by the semi finals and final.

Last week the Nation Newspaper in Barbados revealed a plan by the WICB to make budget cuts in an effort to bring about some economic stability.

An article written by the newspaper’s Editor-in-chief Harold Hoyte late last week showed how the WICB plans to wipe US$3 million dollars off the board’s annual expenses. According to the information given by the Nation, the WICB salaries will be cut by $121,000. Other proposed reductions include:

*Travel by $71,000

*Telecommunications by $113,000

*Marketing and PR by $218,000

*Tours and tournaments by $983,000

*Team preparation for domestic tournaments by $983,000

*Team preparation for domestic tournaments by $120,000

*Third party fees and meeting costs by $200,000

*Development fund by $600,000 (monies paid to territorial boards)

The committee that included Enoch Lewis (chairman), Avondale Thomas, Gregory Georges, and Tony Marshall also recommended that credit card usage be reviewed on a quarterly basis.

Ironically these stringent measures come in the midst of the massive Digicel sponsorship that has sparked so much controversy. It makes the need for a reduction in telecommunications by $113,000 very interesting.

While I can appreciate the need to minimise wastage and put all available funds to good use, I am fearful of the effect these changes will have on our cricket. It makes a further mockery of the slogan, ‘Bigger better cricket’.

With the cricket World Cup only a year and a half away the WICB should now be intensifying development programmes to ensure we do not embarrass ourselves by performing poorly as host team.

Instead there have been distracting issues surrounding negotiations with the players, preparations for the World Cup, the sponsorship of the regional one-day tournament, the watering down of the first class competition and now the proposed introduction of a number of measures that are sure to compromise the continued progress of our cricketers.

For some time there has been concern about the generous salaries received by WICB administrators and there can hardly be any justifiable grounds for complaint here. The $121,000 figure may even be too modest a reduction.

Earlier this year the WICB resumed the ‘A’ team programme than had been in hibernation.  Only time will tell the extent to which such tours will be affected given the fact that the WICB plans to reduce costs for tours and tournaments by $983,000.

Marketing and PR have not been among the areas in which the WICB has excelled and it is difficult to imagine how this can be improved given these cutbacks. The promotion of regional tournaments is still inadequate with very few imaginative ideas emerging to encourage attendance and spectator appeal.

My greatest concern however is in the area of preparation and development. At a time when more effort and funds need to be put into these aspects of our cricket to bring us closer in line with our international competitors the board is reducing its effectiveness in these critical areas.

If the WICB actually implements these plans it should virtually silence the critics of the Stanford initiative as the funds pumped into individual territories throughout the region will be even more critical than at first envisaged.

Some introspection on the part of the WICB should make them critically aware of the need to hastily boost its public image. They can start with the contentious relationship with the players association, the WIPA. Only when the internal matters in West Indies cricket have been addressed can we reasonably expect meaningful investment from those who possess the financial resources to make a difference.

With the current state of affairs it is unlikely others with the resources of R. Allen Stanford will be inclined to make any significant contribution to regional cricket via the WICB.

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