DOWNTIME PROBLEM

After contract reduction, Emrit concerned about keeping players active

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force head coach Rayad Emrit is determined to keep his players active and progressing, with overseas leagues and other playing opportunities likely to become even more crucial during the five-month downtime created by Cricket West Indies (CWI) cutting franchise players’ contracts from 12 to seven months. CWI chief executive officer Chris Dehring announced the reduction last week as part of a wider cost-cutting exercise aimed at addressing the board’s cash-flow problems and putting its finances on a more sustainable footing.

“We just have to make sure that the guys are playing cricket throughout,” Emrit said. “We don’t want any downtime to affect their progression as players.” He said the players knew some form of reduction was coming and, while disappointed by CWI’s decision, understood the financial circumstances behind the move. “I don’t think it’s the news that the players wanted to hear,” Emrit said. “They are disappointed...but they also understand that the financial situation with Cricket West Indies is not the best. The news was always in the air that the contracts are going to be affected and they understand that.”

The seven-month retainer arrangement, however, creates uncertainty for players once the contracted period ends. Emrit said Red Force management could not determine what players do after their domestic contracts expire, but hoped they would remain active through franchise cricket and overseas opportunities. “We have no control what the players will be doing after the contract period is over but what we hope will happen is that players can get in some of the leagues and continuously play cricket throughout the year,” Emrit explained.