CL Financial wants to buy out Digicel.
T&T Guardian Reports.
CL Financial has offered to take over the sponsorship of the West Indies cricket team with a US$20 million offer to buy out the Digicel contract to resolve the current cricket impasse.
A CL Financial source said group financial comptroller Andre Monteil wrote the CEO of the WICB on Wednesday advising of the company’s preparedness to enter contractual negotiations with the WICB and players.
“The company is willing to assist, even if it means matching the Digicel offer to resolve the matter,” the source said.
“CL Financial is a strong brand in the region which has the Caribbean and the sport of the Caribbean at heart and will always try to further the development of youth in the region.”
CL Financial subsidiary Colonial Life yesterday announced a $5 million sponsorship of the West Indies Under-15 cricket championships.
Chanderpaul tipped to replace Lara.
By: Valentino Singh.
Cable & Wireless yesterday released Brian Lara and the six other contracted players from their obligations with their company, to pave the way for the West Indies selectors to pick the best regional team for the series against South Africa which starts on March 31, in Guyana.
Yesterday, the regional selectors comprising Joey Carew, Gordon Greenidge, Clyde Butts and coach Bennett King, were advised by West Indies Cricket Board to pick two squads of 14 players.
Following an executive meeting of the WICB today, it is expected that the squad which includes Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo would be named to attend a camp in Barbados from Wednesday to Saturday.
Sources say that the two squads were selected prior to Cable & Wireless’ release of the players.
Both captain and vice-captain will also be named today for the four-Test series. Guyanese batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul is, however, tipped to be named captain, whichever team is picked.
Lara is the selectors’ preferred choice for captain but the board may be concerned about the impact that this may have on its sponsor, Digicel, although the board had no problem with Lara’s Cable & Wireless contract since it was entered into since September 2003.
Yesterday, the board kept the region in suspense, failing to provide information on a meeting with its lawyers that was designed to say whether or not Lara and other contracted Cable & Wireless players would play.
The board issued a release on Wednesday which stated that following a review of the contracts by its lawyers which was expected to be completed by noon, it would determine whether or not Lara and the Cable & Wireless contracted players would be allowed to play in the series.
Contacted yesterday, WICB corporate communications manager Leonard Robertson said the board would not be issuing a release but would reveal the names of the 14 players from whom the team would be chosen today, along with the findings of their lawyers, headed by Antiguan Joyce Kentish.
However, sources said that the Cable & Wireless release which was sent to the board late yesterday had effectively ended the impasse.
“What Cable & Wireless wants is for the healing to begin. They recognise that the players who are contracted to them are hurting, that West Indies cricket will lose and they, too, have nothing to gain in the current scenario. This was responsible for their position.”
The source said the WICB meeting today would discuss the Cable & Wireless release of the players and a simple rubbing stamping of the best team would be done.
Clico sponsor WI Under-15 tournament.
By: Mark Pouchet.
Clico is pumping $5 million into the sponsorship of the West Indies Cricket Board's (WICB) Regional Under-15 tournament.
This was revealed at a media conference to announce details of the CLICO/WICB partnership at the CL Financial Executive Booth, Queen's Park Oval yesterday.
The insurance firm has committed that sum to the annual tournament over the next five years. The media conference was chaired by Anthony Harford and also in attendance were CLICO CEO Claudius Dacon, WICB CEO Roger Braithwaite, CLICO chief marketing officer Ian Garcia and WI U-15 tournament chairman Alloy Lequay.
Garcia revealed that the $5 million figure only covers CLICO's direct investment in the competition.
This year's tournament, which bowls off in Trinidad from March 29-April 9, will also benefit from CLICO's provision of team clothing for the six-squad championships, as well as a Man-of-the-Match award for every game.
In addition, CLICO will fund the teams' reception, as well as host the presentation dinner. And the Caribbean corporate giant will support a scholarship of US$1,500 for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament "to help that young man achieve their academic goals", according to Garcia.
When he delivered his address, Dacon said his company's graduation from sponsoring their National Cricket League Championship Division club Preysal to the West Indies Under-15 tournament was a natural one.
"We agreed to sponsor the club (Preysal) because they had a vibrant development programme," Dacon stated, after relating that it took some convincing by Harford. "...a few weeks ago when he (Harford) came to us with the idea, we made the instant decision that the idea was worth pursuing."
Dacon revealed that national players Ravi Rampaul and Denesh Ramdin were two cricketers who had distinguished themselves out of the CLICO Preysal club.
And he expected this latest investment by CLICO would help towards developing more talent at the international level.
"It is our fervent hope," he declared, "that the support we pledge today would translate into the discovery and nurturing of the abundant talent we know exists in the Caribbean."
In his turn at the mike, WICB CEO Braithwaite said the value of the tournament was as "a nursery for future West Indian players", citing names such as Marlon Samuels, Ryan Hinds, Xavier Marshall and Rampaul who had come throught the ranks.
The tournament bowls off with the T&T versus Guyana match at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain on March 29.
P Town in PowerGen final.
By: Naz Yacoob.
Barrackpore Secondary Comprehensive in pursuit of 270 runs for first innings lead and the PowerGen Secondary Schools Cricket League 2005 title, were making a strong reply against Princes Town Senior Comprehensive yesterday at Syne Village in Penal.
At the end of the first day’s play, Barrackpore closed on 133 for two, with T&T Under-19 batsman Anderson Beharry on 28 not out, and skipper Jason Mohammed 27. This was in reply to P Town’s competitive total of 269.
Spinner Jason Samuels has so far taken two for 33 for P Town.
According to the playing conditions, the match will continue today (from 9.30 am) until first innings lead is determined.
Earlier, the “Barrack Boys” won the toss and elected to field, a move which paid rich dividends early, as P Town slipped to 70 for five but a defiant sixth wicket partnership of 118 runs by T&T Under-19 opening batsman William Perkins and skipper Lynden Luke revived the innings with intelligent batting and sensible running.
Perkins continued his fine run of form this season with a blistering innings of 98 which included eight fours and three sixes, while Luke struck four fours and one six. He was ably supported by Kevin Lamont with an unbeaten 52.
Pint-sized off-spinner Adesh Deonarine with figures of four for 31 from 11 overs was the leading bowler. Giving support was T&T and West Indies left-arm spinner Rishi Bachan with two for 71, while leg-spinner Roger Seenath picked up two wickets for 80.
Summarised Scores:
AT SYNE VILL.: Princes Town Comprehensive 269 all out (William Perkins 98, Kevin Lamont 52, Lynden Luke 46, Adesh Deonarine 4/31, Rishi Bachan 2/71, Roger Seenath 2/80) v Barrackpore Secondary 133/2 (Shirvon Sankar 31, Anderson Beharry 28 not out, Jason Mohammed 27 not out, Kareem Mohammed 20, Jason Samuels 2/33)
