CPL money for retainer contracts

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will contribute US$360,000 towards the annual retainer contracts for first-class players, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced yesterday.

The announcement follows a WICB meeting in March, which approved a 19-point plan for the professionalisation of first-class cricket in the Caribbean starting next season.

"The professionalisation of first-class cricket in the Caribbean is long overdue, and finally, we have taken a firm decision to realise this," said WICB CEO Michael Muirhead.

"It will be a most costly venture, but one which is absolutely necessary for West Indies cricket to move forward. We are exceedingly grateful to the CPL for this significant commitment towards the funding of these annual first-class contracts."