Windies plate full later in the year
West Indies cricketers will have a fairly busy schedule in the months after this summer’s World Cup in England. From October 13-22 they will play in the Sharjah One-Day tournament, followed by a two-Test trip to New Zealand from December to early January 2000. While in New Zealand they will also play five One-Day Internationals. After that, New Zealand and Pakistan will tour the region, playing three Tests each, and participating in the first ever triangular One-Day competition in the Caribbean. The schedule was announced yesterday by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) after its annual general meeting in Antigua. The board instructed its secretariat to “re-word” rules for player eligibility for Test and One-Day teams to ensure greater clarity. Controversial The rules, which require players to play in the West Indies domestic season to be eligible for international duty, have proved to be controversial. Former West Indies opener Desmond Haynes has a court case against the board in connection with a 1995 decision, while Vasbert Drakes and Ottis Gibson, who played in South Africa during the West Indies season, have complained about the rules in recent times. The dates for the Nortel Under-19 and the Under-15 tournaments were finalised at the Antigua meeting. The Under-19 tourney will be played from July 13 to August 6 in Barbados, while the Under-15 one will be in Guyana from August 11-27. The cut-off date for selection for these competitions is September 1 of the year of the tournament. Facilities The board also recognised that there were “deficiencies in the standard of practice pitches” and has mandated its grounds sub-committee to establish minimum requirements for the facilities during home tours. Other WICB Inc. board decisions: • There will be one general meeting annually of the members of WICB Inc. The directors will meet as required otherwise. • A resolution for the transfer of assets from the WICB to WICB Inc. was adopted. • Three executive committee members - Tony Marshall of Barbados, Richard deSouza of Trinidad and Tobago, and Chetram Singh of Guyana – were elected. They will join the president, vice-president, chief executive officer and chief finance officer as members of the executive committee of WICB Inc. • WICB Inc. will publish an annual report every year. 
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