New youth development thrust launched

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,  CMC – A joint initiative between the West Indies Cricket Board and mobile phone giants Digicel is set to address to youth development in the region over the next two years.

This follows a deal announced  yesterday by the WICB which will see them partnering with long-time corporate partners Digicel in launching a development programme which target the 12-19 age group.

Under the programme, youth development clinics will take place in all WICB territorial boards – Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and the Windward Islands.

“The Digicel Youth Cricket Development Programme bridges an important gap between kiddies cricket and Under-19 cricket,” said WICB chief executive Dr Ernest Hilaire.

The move will see hundreds of aspiring young cricketers coached in the basic cricket skills, with a view to creating a pool of talent that will go forward and compete at national level.

Coaches will focus on the technical, mental and physical aspects of the game, as well as coaching the young cricketers in the areas of scoring, umpiring and the history of West Indies cricket.

The first set of clinics for 12 to 15-year-old boys and girls with basic skills will take place in the form of one clinic per week with each lasting two to three hours over a six-month period. No date was announced.

Clinics for the 15 to 17-year-olds will take place each week and last three hours. They will start this month and end next April.

At the end of the six months, 20 players will be selected to play for their national team and be in with a chance to play in the WICB Under-17 tournament.