Sky's the limit for WI cricket - across the board

Wednesday, May 3, 2000, was a watershed in West Indies cricket with the signing of the most lucrative contract in the history of regional cricket.

The $80 million deal struck between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the British broadcasting entity, Sky Sports, represents the dawn of a new and exciting era.

Not only will the talent of West Indian players be displayed before larger audiences across the world now, but the WICB - through innovative marketing and commercial enterprise - has been able to secure vital funds for the development of cricket at all levels in the Caribbean.

Speaking after the signing ceremony in England, which gives Sky exclusive broadcast and Internet rights for West Indies cricket between 2004 and 2008, WICB president Pat Rousseau termed the agreement 'a great opportunity'.

He observed that the monies from Sky will be a great boost for youth cricket programmes - especially at Under-10, Under-12 and Under-15 levels - and 'will pay off down the road'.

Cricket has been fighting to regain its popularity among young West Indians and the various competitions and incentives need to be expanded and bolstered.

We now have the capital with which to put our plans into action and soon the region should be seeing what is in store for youth cricket.

Getting the younger generations of cricketers focused on the game from early is crucial to the West Indies' desire to reclaim its billing as one of the best teams in the world and the WICB will be doing its all to ensure this happens.

On another front, this deal has opened the door for the West Indies to benefit from the cutting-edge technology and equipment at Sky's disposal.

The digital era of communications is definitely with us and teaming up with one of the major players in sports broadcasting should do no end of good for the profile of West Indies cricket.

Of course, the positives to be derived from this landmark contract can be considerably enhanced if the Windies can return to their former winning ways.

That will mean West Indies cricket will be more in demand, thus giving the WICB greater bargaining power in the increasingly competitive market place of international cricket.

The West Indies Cricket Board welcomes the decision by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to impose life bans on players and officials found guilty of match-fixing.

The WICB also supports fully cricket's world governing body's order that players and officials must sign a declaration to stay clear of corruption in the game.

These major announcements, coming out of a two-day emergency meeting of the ICC's executive committee on May 2 and 3, should certainly go some way to restoring the wholesome image which cricket enjoyed prior to the scandals of match-fixing.

Establishing an anti-corruption investigation authority - independent of the ICC - to investigate any evidence of corruption in cricket is another positive measure.

Also, the appointment of the special investigator of corruption, with wide-ranging powers, means that there is now someone wholly responsible for discerning the facts of any match-fixing allegations and encouraging the relevant member boards to set up an inquiry, if necessary.

The two-month deadline for accumulating all information on match-fixing is somewhat ambitious. But the fact that the ICC has set a time and is prepared to deal with the issue now, instead of putting it off, augurs well for the future and is a crucial signal to those who may be lured by the monetary prospects of match-fixing.

On a related but very encouraging note, in a recent survey on match-fixing the West Indies emerged with the cleanest record of all.

This is something about which we in the Caribbean can all be proud.

However, the WICB will continue to be vigilant and be in the vanguard of opposition to match-fixing, especially in our own backyard.