ST.JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC- A new rule mandating franchises to select at least two players outside of their territories will come into effect when the draft for the second edition of the Professional Cricket League (PCL) takes place later this year.
President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Dave Cameron says decision on the new rule was reached during a recent meeting of the WICB. The WICB has expressed disappointment with last October’s draft for the inaugural PCL with only one team selecting a player outside its territory.
“As a board we were disappointed. So this is what we have done. Coming out of them meeting we have agreed that you must select at least two players from outside of your territory, going forward,” Cameron said on the regional television sports programme Big Bang.
“And remember the PCL is new, our view …let’s get it on the road and let’s tweak it as we go along
Initially, only two players – former Guyana and West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan and Barbados All-rounder Raymon Reifer-were selected by franchises outside of their territories during the first PCL draft.
However, Ramnaresh subsequently withdrew from the Trinidad and Tobago squad citing personal reasons while Reifer was a star performer for the Guyana Jaguars who ran away with the title.
“So the first rule is that come later this year when we have the draft you must select at least two players from outside of your region and that’s a minimum. So in the case of leeward etc. could be much more than that as we strengthen that franchise to make sure that they can compete next year,” said Cameron in his first television interview since being reelected for another two year term.
“So we are mindful. Should we just jump down the road and make it free agency? I am sure that will come at some point. But it’s going to take some talking to”.
Meantime the Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA), which will have an option to select at least three players, has welcomed the new rule for the PCL draft.
“The West Indies Cricket Board is going to be insisting that two players must be (selected) from outside of the territories as part of the draft selections,” said LICA President Auckland Hector.
“In the case of the Leeward Islands who are at the bottom of this year’s tournament, we would be allowed a minimum of three players outside of our territory, and we are going to have the first option of the draft”.