CWI paying big bucks

The prize money for the West Indies four-day cricket champions has skyrocketed and player contract levels are on the rise.

Yesterday at a Cricket West Indies (CWI) press conference, cricket director Miles Bascombe announced that this year’s Caribbean first-class winners will collect US$250 000, a huge increase from the US$30 000 that was previously at stake.

“It is a dramatic increase and a statement because we think that is what it is worth. It is the premier tournament in our cricket system and we want it to be something that teams plan for. We want guys to know it is within their reach and really understand that the planning and preparation that will lead up to the start of that tournament is what will potentially see them taking that cheque.

“On the team front, there are now massive increased prize monies, and about 92.5 per cent of that goes directly to players so those are not funds can be taken by the territorial boards, which, I am sure, none of them would do in any case,” he said.

(Source:  Nations News)