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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Ex-players look beyond World Cup for new stadia</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>BY ANDREW HANCEL Observer staff reporter
Sunday, December 10, 2006
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<P class=StoryText align=justify>With the advent of Cricket World Cup, recent talks from within the cricket fraternity that too many new stadiums are being built have resurfaced.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=120 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>KallicharRan... I would love to see the stadiums being used properly after World Cup </SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>However, two ex-West Indian cricketers are of the view that with proper foresight, no "white elephants" should be around, as some purists of the game are prophesying.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"I think the stadiums serve their purpose. What we need to be mindful about is how are we going to manage them and utilise them," stated former West Indies and Barbados pacer Vasbert Drakes.
"I would love to see, after the World Cup, that it is being used properly," voiced Alvin Kallicharran, a West Indian veteran of two cricket World Cups.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"We hope that having built these stadiums, that we got a vision to do things with it."
Their comments came following recent comments by former president of the West Indies Cricket Board, Pat Rousseau, who won the region's bid to host the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 tournament.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Rousseau has been a strong critic of the five newly erected stadiums in the Caribbean in preparation for the World Cup, slated for March 11 to April 29.
But while Rousseau sees the new stadiums as a waste of money, Drakes and Kallicharran are optimistic about a sustainable plan for the future.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Drakes said: "In this new age you want to see lights and as much facilities for the younger cricketers to come and work on their game. So once those things are in place they are definitely going to serve their purpose.
"So one just got to hope that we have proper planning (because) there is definitely a big spin-off for having such lovely stadiums in the Caribbean."<P class=StoryText align=justify>The region is set to reap a lasting legacy worth billions of dollars after hosting the Cricket World Cup for the first time in its history.<P class=StoryText align=justify>But keeping five more new stadia active to generate income to sustainable levels, will be a monumental task based on the economic viability of the region.
In the meantime, however, Kallicharran suggested a few pointers for the territorial boards that could prevent the new facilities becoming "white elephants".<P class=StoryText align=justify>"...Cricket academies, invite foreign teams to play, promote pre-season training for counties," Kallicharran said, "...should be foremost in the minds of people with vision."<P class=StoryText align=justify>Both men were in the island for last weekend's 40-over cricket match between a Lashing World XI and a Jamaica Invitational XI at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, which formed part of the inaugural Jamaica Cricket Festival of Stars event.
Drakes, who plays County Cricket in England, is also a member of the famous Lashings Cricket Club, while Kallicharran is the manager.
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>BY ANDREW HANCEL Observer staff reporter
Sunday, December 10, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>With the advent of Cricket World Cup, recent talks from within the cricket fraternity that too many new stadiums are being built have resurfaced.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=120 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>KallicharRan... I would love to see the stadiums being used properly after World Cup </SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>However, two ex-West Indian cricketers are of the view that with proper foresight, no "white elephants" should be around, as some purists of the game are prophesying.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"I think the stadiums serve their purpose. What we need to be mindful about is how are we going to manage them and utilise them," stated former West Indies and Barbados pacer Vasbert Drakes. "I would love to see, after the World Cup, that it is being used properly," voiced Alvin Kallicharran, a West Indian veteran of two cricket World Cups.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"We hope that having built these stadiums, that we got a vision to do things with it."
Their comments came following recent comments by former president of the West Indies Cricket Board, Pat Rousseau, who won the region's bid to host the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 tournament.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Rousseau has been a strong critic of the five newly erected stadiums in the Caribbean in preparation for the World Cup, slated for March 11 to April 29.
But while Rousseau sees the new stadiums as a waste of money, Drakes and Kallicharran are optimistic about a sustainable plan for the future.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Drakes said: "In this new age you want to see lights and as much facilities for the younger cricketers to come and work on their game. So once those things are in place they are definitely going to serve their purpose.
"So one just got to hope that we have proper planning (because) there is definitely a big spin-off for having such lovely stadiums in the Caribbean."<P class=StoryText align=justify>The region is set to reap a lasting legacy worth billions of dollars after hosting the Cricket World Cup for the first time in its history.<P class=StoryText align=justify>But keeping five more new stadia active to generate income to sustainable levels, will be a monumental task based on the economic viability of the region.
In the meantime, however, Kallicharran suggested a few pointers for the territorial boards that could prevent the new facilities becoming "white elephants".<P class=StoryText align=justify>"...Cricket academies, invite foreign teams to play, promote pre-season training for counties," Kallicharran said, "...should be foremost in the minds of people with vision."<P class=StoryText align=justify>Both men were in the island for last weekend's 40-over cricket match between a Lashing World XI and a Jamaica Invitational XI at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, which formed part of the inaugural Jamaica Cricket Festival of Stars event.
Drakes, who plays County Cricket in England, is also a member of the famous Lashings Cricket Club, while Kallicharran is the manager.
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