CWI has obligation to stakeholders to play cricket- VP Shallow

Despite the health crisis which continues to plague the world, Cricket West Indies (CWI) Vice-President, Dr. Kishore Shallow, felt it was still imperative that they played the sport in the safest possible manner.

West Indies Test team tour to England last July was the first by any international cricket side since the COVID-19 pandemic and they have since ventured on two more – New Zealand, and ongoing in Bangladesh, which is the most by any side.

That aside, the Vincy T10 League in May was the first semi-professional tournament held in the pandemic then the Caribbean Premier League in August.

“CWI has led the way with cricket since the COVID-19 pandemic started last March or so. This speaks tremendous values to our commitment to cricket as well as our competence and professionalism as a region,” the CWI Vice-President expressed at a Virtual briefing on Thursday.

Dr. Shallow said they could have opted to not keep tournaments or tour, but they have a responsibility to play the sport.

“In a pandemic like COVID-19, it is easy to have a tap-out for financial challenges and all the other issues, but we have an obligation to our stakeholders that cricket is played and of course our players are quite happy to execute what they do best and what they enjoy most.”

He thanked the support of the Antigua and Barbuda Government and title sponsor CG Insurance for collaborating with CWI to stage the Super50 Cup, which bowls off in Antigua on February 7.

The Vice-president felt the partnership with ESPN, who will broadcast the matches, will be fruitful since the abundance of West Indies stars on show will offer a treat to the cricket-starved fans in the Caribbean and around the world.