WI women cricketers not giving up

COACH of the West Indies women’s cricket team Ann Browne-John is confident that financial commitments will be met to enable the reagional team’s participation in the World Cup next year. And she has dispelled speculation that the women cricketers are thinking about pulling out of the eight-team competition next March in South Africa. “Although we have had nothing positive so far from prospective sponsors we are optimistic that funding will be met to have the team take part in the historic competition,” Browne-John said. The former outstanding national cricketer and hockey player said lack of funds has already prevented the WI Women’s Cricket Federation from staging an end-of-the-year two-week camp at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva.

At least US $20,000 was needed to host the players and technical staff in what the team coach hoped would have been another opportunity for the players to bond and get some valuable practice before the Christmas holiday season. “It is not now possible but we are optimistic that we would be able to get one camp going before the World Cup,” said Browne-John. The team coach, who is also secretary of the Cricket Federation estimates that US $200,000 is required to take care of all the expenses to facilitate the regional cricketers’ participation in the World Cup. Already the Cricket Federation officials have missed one important deadline — the submission of the names of the team sponsors and their official logo to the World Cup organisers. “We were not able to do it because no sponsors are willing to commit themselves at this time,” Browne-John said.

She said she was almost certain that West Indies are the only team in the World Cup who have not fulfilled this obligation and it may prove to be an embarrassment. However, Browne-John is not giving up hope, prefering instead to continue pressing for corporate assistance which will enable the women cricketers to take the world stage against the best players in the world. “I don’t think the Caribbean will allow their team to drop out of a World Cup tournament because of the lack of funds. We don’t have much time but we are determined to go to South Africa,” she said. The Windies women, earlier this year, defied the critics when they were one of two teams emerging from a tough qualifying competition in The Netherlands. The other team was Ireland. They will join England, Australia, New Zealand, hosts South Africa, India and Sri Lanka for the showpiece competition.