Smasher Contracts for 15 W.I Players
Thu, Feb 24, '05
Smasher Sports UK will sponsor 15 West Indian cricketers for the next year, providing them with a retainer, along with an appearance fee when they play international cricket. The players have also been promised employment at the end of their careers.
The players are Daren Ganga, Mervyn Dillon, Ricardo Powell, Dave Mohammed, Sherwin Ganga, Carlton Baugh, Pedro Collins, Fidel Edwards, Wavell Hinds, Sylvester Joseph, Omari Banks, Tino Best, Reon King, Rayad Emrit and Martin Nurse.
According to chief executive officer of Smasher Sports UK, Imitiaz Ahmed, the company saw great potential in West Indies cricket and thought that this needed to be exploited and enhanced. ?We then took a decision to sponsor 15 players with the hope of adding more to this list during the season.?
Smasher is also negotiating with some other big name regional cricketers.
Ahmed, who played county cricket in England, is head of the four-year-old company. He said that he was in the region for the long haul.
?At this point, West Indies cricketers need sponsors and this is why we are coming aboard. We are delighted to be associated with the West Indies players because they epitomise the spirit that we have. We are very committed to cricket in the Caribbean and we are here to help bring back the West Indies team to the glory days and how better can we do this than by sponsoring the players.?
The Smasher line of cricket gear will be sold throughout the Caribbean by Sports & Games Ltd.
Trinidad & Tobago captain Daren Ganga, speaking on behalf of the players, said it was a pleasure to be associated with the Smasher line. ?They have shown great commitment and investment to the region?s cricket and for this we must say a heartfelt thanks," Ganga said.
Other international players being sponsored by Smasher include Pakistanis Azhar Mahmood, Salman Butt and Taufeeq Umar and New Zealanders Craig McMillan, Ian Butler and Chris Martin.
* This article appears by special arrangement with the Trinidad Guardian.
