Current president of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee Larry Romany was appointed chief operations officer of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) during their board meeting in Barbados last week, when they also approved a 15-point plan to deal with issues arising from their discussions.
As part of its on-going action plan, WIPA approved a team of professionally-qualified experts to look at the developmental aspect of cricket throughout the region as part of the programme which was drafted following discussions about the 2009 Captains’ Reports, as well as the state of West Indies cricket.
Also discussed at the meeting were the reports on the mediation that took place in July/August and the early part of September between WIPA and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB); the New York Agreement made between WICB and WIPA; the upcoming Special Arbitration regarding ’team rights’; and the India 2009 home series.
WIPA’s draft strategic plan was also on the table for discussion, but the main outcome of the meeting was the 15 points arrived at by the association’s board, which is comprised of Dinanath Ramnarine, Wavell Hinds, Jimmy Adams, Daren Ganga and Ian Bradshaw.
The team approved by WIPA will be in charge of (but not limited to) educational training, nutrition, technical skill, human resource, and fitness.
This committee’s mandate will also be to carry out an audit of the current structure of cricket, as well as the development programmes that currently exist in each territory and consult with the territorial boards and other key stakeholders, after which it will be asked to make recommendations on the best way forward, consistent with international standards and best practices.
The proposed members of this committee have been contacted and are expected to be announced shortly.
Other major points in WIPA’s plans include the recommendation to have the regional first class series be played over two rounds (home and away), with no less than 12 matches and played alongside the home international series.
They also view the implementation of the Cricket Academy as a matter of ’extreme urgency’, as well as the appointment of a Director of Cricket by the governing body to handle all cricketing matters.
In addition to that, WIPA insisted on a clearly-defined pathway for the development of West Indian players from the various age groups right through to international cricket.
Other points included the West Indies and regional team’s preparation ahead of any series, as well as agreement on the yearly schedule of all cricket in advance so that players are aware of their commitments and may make their playing/training arrangements.
In terms of the game in the region, the players’ body wants matches and practice sessions during the first class season to be held at venues that are used for international games or are of international standards and they want the implementation of the use of the same type of cricket balls in regional first class competitions as those used for international cricket.
WIPA also said it was essential that coaches, managers, physiotherapists, trainers, umpires and match officials are given the proper training and necessary tools for them to provide better service to the game and the incentives for those personnel be improved.
They also insisted that all teams must have a fitness trainer and physiotherapist assigned--from schoolboy to Test cricket-in addition to a coach and a manager and that players will require a properly-structured training programme that meets the individual’s needs; access to adequate training facilities, including a suitable gym and access to trainers being available 24/7.
Roger Seepersad -
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Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee