Carib, WICB want better cricket

OFFICIALS of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the regional four-day competition sponsors Carib Beer want regional cricketers to play better cricket and also to show a big improvement in their own performances. The 2005 Carib Beer Cricket Series was officially launched yesterday at a media conference at the Queen’s Park Cricket Club in Port-of-Spain. Roger Braithwaite, WICB’s chief executive officer, stressed that with a new format, the board’s expectation “is an improvement in the quality of the cricket as the best available players in the region strive first to be a member of their territorial team and then compete against each other for the right to be champions.

“This format worked very well in the recent President’s Cup one-day championship, which saw the best players compete and made for riveting contests,” Brathwaite said. He took the opportunity to call upon all the cricketers involved in the competition to showcase their talents with outstanding performances as they seek to address the senior selectors. “With the West Indies team in Australia, the early rounds this year again present an opportunity for those with international aspirations and those who have been there to come forward to remind and address the selectors. In sport, any team is as good as its reserve strength and if those currently wearing the maroon cap are made aware that others pushing hard to replace them, that is all good for our cricket,” he said.

Brathwaite explained the new format and declared that the board officials feel that these new regulations will create more opportunities for keener rivalry and stiffer competition throughout. He also expressed the WICB’s gratitude for Carib Beer’s investment in the promotion of West Indies cricket. “The new format, however, requires a major investment and the board is thankful for the sponsorship of Carib Beer, which has gone some way in making it possible. The Caribbean corporate community has many avenues through which to channel their support and we in cricket are grateful when, like Carib, they become our partners in this great sport that like no other, brings our region together,” Brathwaite said.

“The board express their gratitude to Carib Brewery and welcome their strong commitment to the development of West Indies cricket,” he said. In explaining the new format, the WICB’s CEO said that there will be five home and five away matches involving the six territorial board’s teams. They have done away with the WI Development Team and the Invitational teams from other cricketing nations outside of the region. Anthony Sabga, the CEO of Carib Brewery, made the feature  special address to the audience which included A Norman Sabga (chairman of ANSA-McAl Group—  parent body of Carib Brewery), Gerry Brooks (Chief Operating Officer of ANSA-McAl Group), David Inglefield (Group Marketing Manager— ANSA-McAl), Colin Murray (Events and Promotions Manager, Carib Brewery) who chaired the proceedings, national cricket  captain Daren Ganga and Zoral Barthley (WICB Chief Cricket Operations Officer).

Sabga said his company’s desire is to see the West Indies cricket team regain international respect. “Carib Beer have always been passionate about sport, cricket in particular, and we view the Carib Beer Series as one of the biggest competitions on the Caribbean sports calender. We view our partnership with West Indies cricket as a solid regional investment and the perfect alliance.The premiere beer of the Caribbean, and the premiere sports event of the Caribbean moving forward together.” “As the official beer of West Indies cricket, our vision is for Carib Beer to become the most sought after Caribbean beer in the global market place. We know this vision will be recognised by many of the players who participated in the 2004 series and who will be there for the 2005 series, as they strive to become the most sought after and best cricketers in the world,” he said.