Lara calls for player contracts

PAARL: West Indies cricket skipper Brian Lara has renewed calls for the introduction of central contracts ahead of the one-day leg of their South African tour. His side were beaten 3-0 in the Test series and Lara believes a more professional approach is needed.

Talks on the issue between the West Indies Cricket Board and Players’ Association officials are ongoing.  “It’s been a very tough tour in terms of  getting 11 fit individuals out there,” said Lara. “If you are an international sportsperson, of course it’s up to you to maintain your fitness and ensure you get yourself ready for every single tour. “But I think it would be great if the cricket board could come together and decide that ‘Listen, this is an all-year sport and we need to contract these guys to ensure they stay fit, stay focused, stay in the nets and keep an eye on them’.”

West Indies played South Africa “A” at Paarl yesterday, with the first of five One-Day Internationals tomorrow in Cape Town. Having suffered a number of injury problems during the tour, they are looking to a handful of new faces for an injection of energy and purpose. Barbadians Kurt Wilkinson and Ian Bradshaw have been called up for the first time, while Ricardo Powell and Ryan Hurley have also arrived to join the squad.