da betcris： In the near future cricketers in Barbados will be added to the localassociation’s monthly payroll – for the first time in history
04-Oct-2001In the near future cricketers in Barbados will be added to the localassociation’s monthly payroll – for the first time in history. Atleast 15 cricketers will be paid monthly salaries, as the BarbadosCricket Association’s (BCA) objective is to inculcate players ofpromise with technical, tactical and life skills to excel at theinternational level and to be a credit to the nation.The new initiative was among many revealed recently at the launchingof the BCA’s four-year development plan as the authorities aim to makelocal cricket strong again.The BCA intends to develop a year-round retainer programme in whichthe selected group of players, named Team Barbados, can benefit in allfacets of the game and ultimately prosper when called on for higherduty in world cricket.The plan seeks to expose the players to coaching at basic and seniorlevels in order to pass on their skills to promising younger players.Additionally, it proposes to provide the chosen players with robustcompetition through one tour a year."We know the time is right to invest heavily in our cricketers," saidDavid Holford, chairman of the BCA’s cricket committee. "We are nowasking a lot of the players; to have to go to work, then come and giveof their best in the middle by playing cricket on a consistent basis."So by having these retainer contracts, we want them to spend all yearround thinking about the game through all the aspects it (cricket) hasto offer," he told NATIONSPORT.Holford said the players could be chosen from as early as next season,but naturally, like most of the ambitious programmes of the BCA, theproject depended heavily on funding."We are hoping that both the Government and private sector can assistfinancially. Plus, we are looking for help from the Leeward IslandsLottery Holding Co. when they start operation here."So, if all these `players’ come into place, we will be looking tostart Team Barbados from as early as next year."Holford stressed that the initiative was one of the most crucial inthe development plan because "it’s unreasonable to expect amateurs tocompete against professionals and do well".The selected players will undergo medical tests, fitness tests anddrug-testing within the first months of the programme and are expectedto benefit from the use of a full-time coach, while they are exposedto the latest in technology through video services.