Coach hits out at Carib Beer cricket changes

The 40-year-old, who played eight One-Day Internationals for the West Indies, said the move would put regional players at a disadvantage at international level.

"I think it is a major disappointment because when you look at world cricket every other Test-playing nation plays a lot of First-Class cricket before they get into their Test cricket," Haynes argued in a Television Jamaica (TVJ) story.

"I think in the West Indies we are not playing enough First-Class games and I think this year when we played 11 matches for Jamaica, it was good for the youngsters."

He continued, "It was also good to test their temperament (to see) how they could cope with five-day Test matches and I think if we are looking to have the Australians here coaching our players and they are working so hard, it’s very important that the players who are staying back work as hard and play as much cricket as possible."

Though the WICB is yet to confirm any plans to scale down the tournament, it has been widely reported that the tournament is expected to be reduced to just five matches, a semi-final round and a final.

Jamaica Cricket Association president and West Indies Cricket Board director Jackie Hendriks confirmed on Monday the proposed plan to alter the format of the tournament, originally scheduled to last ten rounds.

Haynes, who helped Jamaica to their capture of the title last year, said the changes would be less than ideal.

"When you go into the Test arena, it’s a different kettle of fish — it’s five days of cricket — and for them to cut it to seven matches. It’s not what we were looking for," Haynes told TVJ.