BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Out-of-favour wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh has been surprisingly drafted in to fill one of the three vacant spots on the West Indies Cricket Board’s central retainer contract list.
The 28-year-old Jamaican, who has been repeatedly snubbed by regional selectors, joins all-rounders Dave Bernard Jr and Andre Russell as the new players to hold contracts.
This comes after West Indies captain Chris Gayle, along with all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard turned down contract offers recently.
Gayle, who initially sought and was granted an extension to the deadline date for signing the contract, was the last of the trio to indicate he would not take up the deal.
Baugh, meanwhile, was named by the WICB yesterday to take up a Grade C contract six years after playing the last of his five Tests.
His 30 One-Day Internationals have been scattered over a five-year period and he has not played one in over two years.
In recent years, Denesh Ramdin has been preferred as the Windies first choice wicketkeeper but the 25-year-old Trinidadian was overlooked for a contract due to his ailing form with the bat.
Bernard, who was relegated to a developmental contract, has been upgraded once again while the talented Russell, who was outstanding on the recent A team tour of England, has also been elevated to the top tier.
The list of players holding developmental contracts have been reduced to eight as the WICB opted not to replace Bernard and Russell.
Despite the disappointment of losing Gayle, Bravo and Pollard, the WICB remained upbeat about the players who had signed on.
“The WICB is delighted to have a full complement of players on central retainer and developmental contracts,” said WICB chief executive Dr. Ernest Hilaire.
“We see this as a clear demonstration by the players themselves that they are committed to working with the WICB towards the development and success of West Indies cricket.
“The WICB is encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response from the players and we look forward to working very closely with each of them in the coming year.”
Central retainer contracts are awarded on three tiers, with Grade A deals worth and estimated US$120 000 a year, Grade Bs worth $100 000 and Grade Cs worth $80 000.
Developmental contracts are worth an estimated $24 000 per year.
Veteran left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul is the only player signed on a Grade A contract with fiery left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn and all-rounder Darren Sammy holding Grace B contracts.
The remaining 12 players have been signed on Grade C contracts.
RETAINER CONTRACTS – Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sulieman Benn, Darren Sammy, Kemar Roach, Brendan Nash, Adrian Barath, Darren Bravo, Shane Shillingford, Nikita Miller, Devon Smith, Ravi Rampaul, Nelon Pascal, David Bernard Jr, Andre Russell, Carlton Baugh Jr.
DEVELOPMENTAL CONTRACTS – Kirk Edwards, Gavin Tonge, Andre Fletcher, Chadwick Walton, Devendra Bishoo, Assad Fudadin, Imran Khan, Kevin Stoute.
