Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter
Colm Delves (right), Digicel Group CEO, listens as Prime Minister Bruce Golding (second right) speaks to West Indies legends Richie Richardson (third right) and Lance Gibbs, along with David Hall (left), CEO Digicel Jamaica, at Tuesday's launch of the Digicel home series at Sabina Park. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
THE WEST Indies Cricket Board (WICB) aims to use the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka and Australia as a platform to rejuvenate the Caribbean team's Test ranking.
"The WICB has approved a draft strategic plan for 2008-2012," Tony Deyal, corporate secretary of the Board, said at the launch of the series hosted by the team's sponsor, Digicel, at Sabina Park on Tuesday night.
"Our goal is to regain the pinnacle of world cricket by 2012 and to do that we need all the help and support we can get and all the sponsors.
"Cricket is the sport of the people around the Caribbean. Digicel has demonstrated its willingness to be a partner and supporter of West Indies cricket and is part of the future of West Indies cricket. We expect the partnership to be vital as we seek once more to be a major player in world cricket.
The West Indies will play Sri Lanka in the first series that includes two Tests and three one-day internationals (ODI).
The series bowls off with the first Test in Guyana on March 22. The second and final Test and two ODI will follow in Trinidad and Tobago, before the teams move onto St Lucia for the third and final ODI on April 15.
Schedule for series
There will be a four-week break before the start of the Australia series, which comprises three Tests, five ODI matches and one Twenty20 contest, that will be played in Barbados on June 20.
The first Test takes place at Sabina Park, Jamaica, on May 22, with the second in Antigua (May 30-June 2) and the third at Kensington Oval, Barbados (June 12-16).
Arnos Vale in St Vincent will host the first ODI on June 24, to be followed by the second and third ODIs at Grenada's National Stadium on June 27 and 29. The fourth and fifth and final will take place on the 4th and 6th of July, respectively.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding and former Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson, along with West Indies legends Lance Gibbs and Richie Richardson, were also present at the launch where Digicel Jamaica unveiled plans to bring cricket fans closer to the game.
Colm Delves, chief executive officer, Digicel Group, stated that Digicel was committed to bringing the fans closer to the game and to the players and would continue driving passion into the game of cricket.
"While we are focused on providing the necessary resources to help grow West Indies cricket to its true potential we also want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to take part in and enjoy the Digicel home series as our team takes on Sri Lanka and Australia," he said.
Tickets for the series will go on sale today in the various countries hosting games, or by calling the WICB cricket line, 1-800-144-GAME (4263). Fans from outside the Caribbean should call 1-268-481-2490. Persons can also log on to www.windiescricket.com, the official website of West Indies cricket, for a full list of ticket prices, the addresses and opening hours of the ticket offices.
