Shell Cricket Academy face closure

ST GEORGE’S: There is uncertainty over the future of the West Indies Cricket Academy that has used annual three-month programmes in recent years to school promising young cricketers in the Caribbean. Academy co-ordinator Rudi Webster says following the termination last year of sponsorship by Shell, the programme at the St George’s University in Grenada is now in doubt. “We have got a contract with the (West Indies) board for the end of 2005 (but) up to now we haven’t had anything in writing from them whether the Academy is going to continue or not,” Webster said in an interview with CMC Sport. 

Dr Webster, who served at different times as a West Indies team manager and psychologist (performance consultant), said his team is ready to continue the programme as long as they get the “green light”. “I hope some time soon, somebody will take up a pen and paper or send us some correspondence saying that the Academy is on or the Academy is off. We are prepared to start if they want to continue, if they don’t want to continue we are happy with that too,” he added. Dr Webster said he would like the programme to continue with new sponsorship since Shell has not extended their funding of the Academy. 

Webster also praised Shell’s contribution to the Academy, labelling them as very good sponsors.  The Cricket Academy is conducted at the St George’s University (SGU) in south west Grenada and several of their graduates have gone on to represent West Indies in international cricket, including Ryan Hinds, Carlton Baugh, and Fidel Edwards. The four pillars on which the programme was developed were Cricketing Skills (batting, bowling, fielding, wicket-keeping); Fitness; Personal Development (including Literacy, Handling the Media and Money Management) and Mental Skills. (CMC)