Countries Should Pay WICB to Host Test Matches

It is no secret the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is having money trouble. I spent the last few weeks listening to some insiders talk about the financial mess and the situation is just as dire as it seems.

This is not entirely the fault of the board, but more a combination of factors not limited to poor investment planning and onerous ICC rules that limit the match fees of touring member nations. In a society like the Caribbean, that lacks big businesses to underwrite professional sports, the marketing arm of the WICB -- run by Roger Braithwaithe, Laurie Ann Holding and Darren Millien -- is hard pressed to come up with fresh marketing ideas to generate income around the spectacle that is West Indies cricket.

In fact, I had a prolonged and sometimes combative chat with Mr Millien during a rain delay at the recently concluded test match in Grenada, even though I was assured that the future of West Indies cricket is in good hands, nothing I was told gave me the impression that fresh ideas are being considered or put in place.

Is it enough to just generate ancilliary revenue only through the sale of souvenirs? Should the WICB leave their Internet strategy solely in the hands of BSkyB, whose main aim, it seems, is to squash all competition by means both fair and foul?

There are about two million West Indian cricket fans all over the world, in every hemisphere, many with the means to travel and support the regional cricket team. Yet, the WICB and BSkyB have contrived to ignore those individuals. Maybe BSkyB is seeking to protect its investment, but it should make sense to the WICB that the more fans who become involved through media outlets such as CaribbeanCricket.com, the better off West Indies cricket will be in the long run.

Why then, did the WICB agree to limit the availability of the players for interviews by CaribbeanCricket.com? Is it because we are independent Website? The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Reverend Wes Hall, the new head honcho of the WICB recently met with the CARICOM heads of state. I am sure on his agenda he talked about the development of new stadia, and hotel rooms for the upcoming 2007 World Cup. The World Cup could present a windfall to the member states and Grenada and St Lucia along with the old stager Trinidad are well positioned to reap some of the expected benefits.

However, I want to throw out an unconventional proposal to the WICB marketing team. Isn't it about time that the WICB consider having the member states bid for the rights to host test and one day matches in the various territories?

Consider, if marketed properly, a Test or ODI match in any country ensures that visitors will come to that island or country, hotel rooms will be occupied, meals will be sold, and taxis will be hired, not to mention the nightclubs and alcohol that will be consumed, it seems then that the country derives great benefits for hosting a test match, that is why it is my considered opinion that the time is ripe for them to pay a fee for such a benefit.

Additionally, because of the monetary investment by the territories, they would then ensure that the match(es) would be marketed through their various tourist boards, charter flights would be arranged from North America and England, hotels and flights would be filled, and a good time would be had by all. West Indies cricket remains too much of a unique spectacle with the loud music, the dancing spectators, the sun, the sheer energy, to continue to unfold before sparsely filled grounds around the Caribbean.

The marketing arm should also look into selling beverage rights, to the various distilleries and beer manufacturers in the territories, that is also a gold mine.

A lot of money is being made off the game in the Caribbean and the money is not getting to the board.

I know these concepts will, in all likelihood, be considered heretical in nature, given the tendency for close-minded thinking that still exists in the Caribbean, but hopefully the marketing arm is willing to listen to any and all suggestions and pass on the good ones to the decision makers.

It is time for the marketing arm of the WICB to expand beyond being simple tee-shirt and cap salespeople.