Guyana Jaguars players pleased with WICB’s monthly salary

Oct 23, 2014 Sports

By Sean Devers
All of the West Indies players with the exception of Jamaican Marlon Samuels reportedly

Players in the Guyana Jaguars franchise team begin work for the upcoming season.

signed a letter in support of their Captain Dwayne Bravo to abandon the tour to India because of a reduction in their wages to compensate for the payment of 90 First-Class players in the region.
But back in the Caribbean some of those players who were only paid match fees and will now be paid a monthly salary expressed pleasure in the Franchise system which commences with the new First-Class season on November 14.
Some members in the Guyana Jaguars told Kaieteur Sports they felt the franchise tournament and the monthly salaries paid to 15 players from each territory was a good thing since it would now afford the players not in the West Indies team an opportunity to still earn a decent living from playing cricket.
Left-handed middle order batsman Vishal Singh said the contracting of the First Class players was a good thing since the players would not have to worry about being tired after a hard day’s work when they attended practice.
“This won’t change my life style much since I always channeled all my attention towards cricket. I don’t have a normal job since I play professionally in England when I am not in Guyana. I also put my university studies on hold to concentrate on cricket full time and getting a fixed salary to do something you love is always a good thing,” Singh stated.
Right-handed opener Rajendra Chandrika was also delighted with the new system saying that a player was forced to look for money elsewhere if they were not playing international cricket or in the IPL.
“We only play about five Regional matches per year and when the season ends many players have to find other ways to look after their families since only those at the top were able to make a comfortable living from cricket. Now everyone can earn a salary even if you do not make it to the West Indies team. This will allow you to train and practice harder since you do not have to worry too much about where your money will come from. This system will also allow more players to play local cricket which will also help to improve those coming up at the club level,” Chandrika said.
Narsingh Deonarine has played 18 Tests but he has lost his place in the team and feels the monthly salary for players is a good thing since a player could still earn a decent pay which will help him to devote more time towards improving their game.
“I am working hard to get back into the West Indies team and not worrying too much about where my money will come from if I don’t play in the overseas leagues is one of the things a player would not have to worry about.
“If you don’t make the West Indies team or lose your place it is almost impossible to buy a nice house or drive a top of the line car since the money you get paid for Regional matches will run out once the season ends since our season is among the shortest First-Class seasons in the world.
This (franchise system) allows everyone to make a living from cricket and work towards improving their game,” Deonarine explained.