New Busta International Shield unveiled by West Indies Board

West Indies cricket authorities have confirmed the new structure of the Busta Cup, renamed the Busta Cricket Series, to allow for the inclusion of the England 'A' and West Indies 'B' sides.

In agreement with the England and Wales Cricket Board, the new format will feature a two-tiered competition including the Busta Cup, which can only be won by the traditional West Indies regional sides and a Busta International Series, which will be contested by the four top teams in the Cup.

Under the slogan 'It All Starts Here' symbolising the tournament's importance to the West Indies Cricket Board's (WICB) rebuilding efforts, the annual cricket championship will comprise two stages.

In the first stage starting on January 5th, all eight teams - Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Leeward Islands, Windward Islands, Guyana, West Indies 'B' and England 'A' - will play each other once in a league format.

While the regional teams will earn standard points awarded under the tournament rules towards the Busta Cup, the WI 'B' and England 'A' teams will earn "shadow points" under the same scoring system that will qualify them for the second stage.

Following round seven of competition, the regional team with the highest points will win the Busta Cup and be crowned Caribbean champions.

The four top teams on points overall will advance to the second stage to determine the Busta International Shield winners, meeting in semi-finals and then a final game for the new trophy.

The Busta Cup Champions will receive US$7, 000 and the Busta International Shield winners will take home US$10,000. While it is possible for a Caribbean regional team to win both trophies, the WI 'B' and England 'A' teams can only qualify to win the Busta International Shield.

Caribbean sides will also win US$5,000 if they beat England 'A' to provide further incentives and their boards will pick up US$10,000.

The WICB and sponsors are paying for the WI 'B' team to have a manager and a full-time coach to assist in its preparation as well as an experienced captain/assistant coach to mould the team and assist in the preparation of the young players.

WICB President Pat Rousseau said the restructured tournament had set the stage for exciting cricket and that all the bonuses on offer should inspire cricketers to give their best.

"I think we will see some of the best cricket we have seen in a long time at a regional level," he said.

"There is something in this for everyone; the individual players, teams and now the territorial boards also. For the first time also we have introduced preparation funds to assist teams.

"It is an approach which the WICB has determined will help to encourage good regional cricketers to aim higher to become good international cricketers. This global mindset is what is needed to restore West Indies cricket to its international standing," he said.

Apart from US$150 Man-Of-The-Match awards in every game, there are individual series prizes for outstanding Caribbean cricketers: the top bowler (most wickets), top batsman (most runs), top all-rounder and the top fielder (most catches) will all receive US$1,000 each.