St. John’s, Antigua - West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President, Dave Cameron is expressing heartiest congratulations on behalf of the Board and Management, to the players and management of the under 19 team which won the World Cup for the first time. Cameron credits the over 15 months of preparation the team underwent which he thinks “gave them the tools necessary to win the title.”

The five-wicket win Cameron says “was intense, but the players showed resilience and patience required to take them through to the very end. The region is proud this morning of the achievements of this team and we see a clear path to the development of our future stars.”

Cameron thinks “this was a comprehensive team effort and this is indicative of how we would like to move forward with all categories of our game.”

The President in expressing his joy said “it was a wonderful Valentine’s Day gift to all the people in the Caribbean.” He also wanted to highlight the contribution of the families of the young men. He noted also that the team will be appropriately recognised once they return home.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

"The region is proud this morning of the achievements of this team and we see a clear path to the development of our future stars.”

Mr. Cameron, while thousands of us join you in congratulating our U19 team for finally making us proud, and presenting us with an awesome valentines day gift, many of us doubt that "clear path to the development of our future stars” you made mention of.

Over the years we have ALWAYS produced young talented cricketers but our problem has always been with our inability to develop them and keep them. That list includes Adrian Barath, now 25, who scored a century on debut, as a teenager at Gaba, against a very good Australian attack. Kieran Powell now 25, Lionel Baker 31, Miguel Cummins-25, Sheldon Cottrell-26, and many more were all seen as future stars that would take us to success, but were not developed, and they either disappeared or stagnant.

Mr. Cameron, it's ok to congratulate them and to talk about them being "a clear path to the development of our future stars.” However, my question to you is, what plan do you have to ensure they are 1. developed, and 2. They remain committed to West Indies Cricket? The later is a problem.

Our newly appointed captain of the senior team is only 23, and the world has seen him as a future star in the making. However, he is part of the team that threatened to boycott the T20 world cup because of money dispute. I also think of Calos Brathwaite, who is also a star in the making. He too, is another player that will be on demand. Like Andre Russell, as soon as he makes that name, he too will be gone.

Under 19 players like Pope, Joseph and about six more, sure look like future stars. The question is, can we develop them and then keep them? What's the plan?