KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaica Cricket Association president, Wilford “Billy” Heaven, wants the Caribbean Premier League and national franchise, Jamaica Tallawahs, to play a larger role in the development of local youth cricket.
Also a Cricket West Indies director, Heaven said they were specific initiatives which the league and the franchise could undertake, which would help to ensure the further growth of the sport across the country.
“The Tallawahs/CPL should include the country’s best under-19 talent in their training camps with a view to signing them,” the JCA chief told the Gleaner newspaper here.
“In the future, these players could be transferred on the international senior markets for a fee, which would go directly to the club or parish association from which they originated.”
The CPL, a private venture, was inaugurated in 2013, replacing the flagship domestic Caribbean T20 which was organised by CWI. Tallawahs are one of six franchises which make up the league, along with Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Trinbago Knight Riders and St Lucia Zouks.
The CPL has since grown to become one of the most popular T20 leagues around the world, and Heaven believes organisers could place their considerable clout in helping to stage the local T20 tournament here.
“[They should] support the executing of a local T20 championship, which culminates just before the CPL training camps commence,” Heaven pointed out.
“The best players from this local championship should be invited to benefit from the training camps and be seen by CPL scouts.”
However, Heaven acknowledged that CPL had already contributed significantly to the regional cricket landscape.
“Some of the proceeds from this commercial arrangement [with CWI] are disbursed across the territorial boards and used to strengthen the respective franchises in the CPL,” he noted.
“Professionalising regional first-class cricket will improve the quality of talent at the senior level.”