Windies women cricketers hit $$ snag

WEST Indies women cricketers run the risk of being seriously under-prepared  for their  biggest challenge yet —  competing in next year’s World Cup tournament in South Africa. They find themselves in a precarious situation caused by a lack of funds to undergo specialist training camps that are thought to be invaluable to their development. But team coach Ann Browne-John is not giving up. The former outstanding Trinidad and Tobago cricketer and hockey player is holding out hope for at least one more two-week stint with the regional players at the Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre at Balmain Village in Couva. Last weekend the women completed one such stint which left Browne-John more convinced that much more work is needed to get the team ready for the daunting task ahead.

“We are half-way prepared and the effort must be made to fast track their development because there is too long a period between the camps. They need to be together for the full benefits of the training to be achieved,” said Browne-John. Following the end of the camp on Sunday, the players returned to their respective countries and will work with their West Indies Cricket Board  (WICB) Territorial Development Officers. However Trinidad and Tobago players on the team are at a  slight advantage as they will remain under the wing of coach Browne-John until the next camp can be arranged which she hopes will be before the end of the year. The local players on the West Indies team are the captain Stephanie Power, Shane De Silva, Nellie Williams, Jade Chadee, Envis Williams, Felicia Cummings, Anisa Mohammed, and Kirbyina Alexander.

Browne-John, who also wears the hat of the secretary of the West Indies Women’s Cricket Federation says that the cost of a typical camp is in the region of  US $20,000 and is hoping that responsible business organisations will see the benefit of investing in the programme. The West Indies women earlier this year surmounted great odds to qualify for the World Cup in a very tough competition in The Netherlands establishing themselves as worthy competitors on the world stage. For the two weeks they were based at Balmain, the players were involved in intensive training on and off the field and also got the opportunity to play against a Trinidad and Tobago Under-15 boys team. Another match was planned for last Saturday but was called off because of rain. Coach Browne-John is confident that the Women’s Federation should be able to market their product and attract the funds necessary to help the cricketers fine-tune their preparations for the all-important World Cup in March.