The biennial ICC Under-19 World Cup would not develop our young players

May 06, 2009 Sports

Then last time the West Indies Under-19 team contested an international youth Test was 2001 in the United Kingdom against young England.

Since then the Region Under-19 youngsters had to be satisfied with the ICC Under-19 World Cup which is a biennial tournament. After last year annual regional Under-19 tournament in Barbados, the Region’s future Test hopefuls were left languishing because of the WICB’s short sightedness.

Ironically the WICB is saying to our youngsters, if there is no youth World Cup there is no incentive for performance. Before the ICC Youth World Cup was resurrected in South Africa in 1998, the West Indies Under-19 Team was kept active after the 1989 Under-19 tournament in Guyana – then sponsors Northern Telecoms organized a two (2) week tour of Canada which was a just reward for the tournament top performers.

The following year 1990, Australia Under-19 made a historical visit to the Caribbean for a three (Test) International series and during the summer of 1993 the West Indies Under-19 returned to the United Kingdom since 1982 for a three Test youth series and the WICB reciprocated in January and February of 1995 by hosting the English Under-19 team for three youth tests and later in the same year, the regional Under-19 youngsters broadened their horizon with a historical tour to Pakistan for three International Youth Test and limited overs matches in Bangladesh.

The last international Under-19 youth Test series that was contested in the Caribbean was 1996, when the WICB hosted Pakistan Under-19 team.

So indeed the last time our Under-19 youngsters were exposed to international opposition in a match of three days or more, was 2001. Only time will confirm if the ICC Biennial Youth World Cup is the WICB’s only youth development option. The regional Under-19 tournament is two months away.

Charwayne Walker