CWI Players Draft to go ahead

Domestic cricket gets boost

Despite the financial crisis facing CWI that has led to the implementation of a 50% pay cut for all players and staff, CWI has announced that the domestic professional players draft will go ahead on Monday 15th June.

This live draft will be for both the Super 50 and Four day Championship, the Super 50 is scheduled to take place from early November 2020 with the four day starting in late December 2020.

The protected players list for each franchise has been released as followed

Players will be contracted for 6 months with a 50% pay cut also applying due to said financial concerns.

In previous years franchises have had to contract at least two overseas players (outside their territories) but due to the impact of COVID-19 and weak finances this will not apply.

Franchises will need to select a further two players in two draft rounds to complete their squads.

As Barbados Pride are the defending champions they will get the last pick in each round.

One should assume that each franchise will select home based players only, which makes picking the two players an interesting conundrum.

Nyeem Young is a good example, a talented youngster who starred with West Indies U19 in the World Cup but the Pride are super stocked with talent. It would be hard to see how Young could make the squad much less the starting XI, especially if intl players like Jason Holder were available.

If you would like a copy of the draft pool list to your inbox do let us know and we will send it to you. It’s a good way to practice being head of a domestic franchise.

Who would you pick and why?

Not only is the above a question mark but it is in our opinion wise for CWI (financial crisis notwithstanding) to again run a CCC and/or Emerging players team. This will ensure that the likes of Young and Shamar Springer can potentially get an opportunity elsewhere.

We saw in the 2019 Super 50 that regular domestic cricket provided great experience for the title winning West Indies Emerging team.

Other high-profile/exciting names that are in the pool draft and must be hoping for a professional contract

Devendra Bishoo

Delorn Johnson

Kesrick Williams

Ashmead Nedd

Clinton Pestano

Yannic Cariah

Let us know your thoughts on the above and should you have any questions that need answering don’t hesitate to leave a comment.