BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC:
THE WEST Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is preparing to put back the semi-finals and finals of the Carib Beer Series tournament by almost two months.
Roger Brathwaite, the WICB's chief executive, said yesterday the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board had made a recommendation for the final phase to be put back to April. Subsequently, the WICB entered discussions with sponsors Carib Beer and the response had been favourable for the change, Brathwaite said.
The semi-finals were originally slated for February 10-13 and the finals February 17-21.
The new dates are likely to be the semi-finals on April 7-10 and the five-day final on April 14-18.
AGREEMENT
"We discussed the matter at the WICB's meeting last weekend and the board was in agreement that the tournament finale could be pushed back," Brathwaite said.
"We are now in discussions with the sponsors and they favour the idea as well. The big advantage would be that we would have the best players available for thee semi-finals and the finals."
"That would be a win-win situation on all sides. The crowds would be able to see the best players and the teams would be at full strength."
The West Indies team leaves for New Zealand on Tuesday to play five one-day internationals and three Tests. The best players would have missed the finals and semi-finals.
"We would now be able to play after the players return from New Zealand," Brathwaite continued.
"That's very good and it would help with getting better arrangements and better marketing and promotions in place."
