West Indian Community Heads Back World Cup Bid (9 Jul 1996)

9 July 1996

West Indian Community heads back World Cup bid

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday - West Indian community leaders announced their full support this weekend for an official bid to host the 2003 World Cricket Cup.

At the conclusion of a community heads of government (CARICOM) meeting, Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of Kitt`s and St. Nevis, said that the event could help raise revenue to support the development of the game.

``This means quite a bit for the people of the Carribean. It means the private sector will have to become involved and the public sector as well,`` he stated.

Last month, the new president of the West Indian Cricket Board (WICB), Pat Rousseau, revealed his intentions to launch a bid for the World Cup after the International Cricket Council indicated their interest in the idea.

In a separate move, community leaders backed plans to offer contracts to a pool of West Indian players to encourage them to stay in the country rather than pursue their career elsewhere.

``These are players whom we can draw upon and who would be retained on a contractual basis to represent the region,`` explained Douglas.

``This would provide the players with an opportunity of financial security and also ensures that when our cricketers are required to play test cricket, there would be no excuse that they are not on any contract with the WICB.``

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)