Safety remains top priority for CWI

THERE will be covid19-related measures to protect players and staff during both the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and regional cricket tournaments, according to Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO Johnny Grave.

Grave made this disclosure during an interview on Monday.

Regional cricket has been on hold since March due to the coronavirus pandemic, while there is a likelihood that the 2020 CPL will be staged with few fans (in adherence with social distancing measures), without overseas players and in one venue (maybe Barbados).

Grave said, “Any tournaments and home tours that are rescheduled for the foreseeable future will have to have new covid19-related measures to protect players and staff, and to act responsibly within the host countries.”

The CWI CEO continued, “We would implement these (measures) in close consultation with the ministries of sport and health, in conjunction with our own medical advisory committee.”

Asked when there may be a likelihood for CWI-sanctioned events (men, women and youth) to resume, Grave replied, “We are still assessing the feasibility of when our tournaments and home tours can be rescheduled for, whilst ensuring our prime concerns regarding player and staff safety.”

In a BBC report on Sunday, the rescheduled West Indies’ tour of England (which was due to begin in June but England and Wales’ shut-down of cricket has been extended until at least July 1) included the possibility of the visitors going into isolation for as long as 14 days.

Grave mentioned, “We are working closely with the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) to understand their plans to play the tour behind closed doors in bio-secure venues.”

Last month, there were reports that the CWI was yet to pay the full salaries to regional players involved in the 2019-2020 season.

Grave said, “We are processing payments for all salaries to ensure they are kept as up-to-date as possible, and are prioritising all outstanding match fees owed to players.

“But we haven’t paid them to date, other than the non-contracted players who played in the first three rounds of the West Indies Championship (who) have already been paid.”

The CWI is dealing with harsh economic realities due to the global coronavirus pandemic, and Grave pointed out, “We are in regular contact with all stakeholders and everyone is staying safe and well to date.

“There is no cricket being played in the region and, as long as we keep our monthly payments going to the territorial board’s franchises, they can survive financially in the short-term.”