WICB release cost-cutting fixtures for new regional season
Published:Monday | November 30, 2009 | 5:32 PM
In a radical cost-cutting manoeuvre, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has opted to play five of the seven rounds of next year’s yet-to-be-sponsored regional first-class tournament in a single territory.
The other two rounds will be played in the Leeward and Windward islands.
The actual venues are yet to be set.
Its a change from 2009, which featured return, home-and-away matches.
The 2010 fixtures show that Barbados will host rounds three and four.
The opening round will be hosted by defending champions Jamaica, while in round two, Antigua will stage two games and St Kitts/Nevis the other.
Trinidad and Tobago will host round six from February 19 to 22, with the home team playing Windward Islands, Barbados taking on Jamaica and Guyana facing the Leeward Islands.
The tournament ends with Grenada the venue for two matches and St Lucia the other in the round seven.
Explaining the decision, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) director and Trinidad & Tobago representative Allen Sammy said it was all about money and development.
He estimates that the WICB will save US$1.4 million through the arrangement, savings that will be used to facilitate four West Indies ‘A’ team series, home and away.