Courtney Browne: WICB in discussion about revisiting eligibility rule

WICB chairman of selectors Courteny Brown has said that the board is reconsidering the eligibility criteria for the players.

With the West Indies players involved in a long-standing battle with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), chairman of selectors Courtney Browne has said that the board is reconsidering the eligibility criteria for the players, which could see few of the senior players being brought back into the squad. As of now, WICB only considers those players who have played the domestic 50-over format in West Indies. It was the same criteria under Julian Hunte and Ernest Hilaire, back in 2010. However, if the eligibility criteria is changed, it could see few of the senior players making their grand comeback to the national side, and West Indies could possibly feature a full-strength squad. West Indies cricket ‘hijacked by a small clique of people’, says Trinidad & Tobago PM Dr Keith Rowley

“There is some discussion going on about revisiting the eligibility rule. I know it’s with a working committee. That will then go to the board. But we have to understand our domestic cricket is key. Players coming out of domestic cricket and showing they can perform at the international level is important. Yes, we have to look at it [the eligibility rule] but also be mindful that we have to develop our own domestic product, a stage where we can have a very good standard of regional cricket,” Browne was quoted saying to Line and Length, a Barbados-based network. Dave Cameron set to return as WICB President

“We have a lot of young developing players, they’re all bunched together in terms of number of Tests, that’s par for the course. When you have a bunch of people you’re exposing to international cricket, you will tend to get these sorts of performances. But the good thing about it is, you have the coaching team and you have to give them some time to develop players. There’s no regret [in giving them opportunities]. They came through the system, we understand they’re young players and need time to develop. When you’re looking at development process, it’s going to be a slow process. We’re not going to find a sensation overnight,” he concluded.

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