St John’s Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board has created history in awarding Central Retainer Contracts to six women cricketers for the period October 2010 to September 2011.
World rated Stafanie Taylor and world record holder Deandra Dottin have been awarded A contracts.
West Indies captain Merissa Aguilleira, outstanding spinner Anisa Mohammed and all rounders Stacy Ann King and Shanel Daley have been awarded B contracts.
"The Board of Directors took a decision that the WICB must commit to ensuring that our women players have a level of personal security which will assist as they continue their climb to the top of world cricket," said WICB CEO Dr. Ernest Hilaire.
"The granting of these six retainer contracts represents a start and we are hoping to expand the programme in coming years," he explained.
"This is a tangible commitment to the players that the WICB is very serious about women’s cricket and its development in the region," Dr Hilaire asserted.
"We have re-activated the women’s cricket programme in a serious way and we have been working steadily to ensure that our women’s team play more cricket on international tours," Dr Hilaire recapped.
"The players have repaid the investment of the WICB thus far by showing that they are determined and committed to realising their goal of making the West Indies Women’s Team the best in the world," Dr. Hilaire outlined.
"This is an exciting period of revitalization of women’s cricket and we see the awarding of Central Retainer Contracts to these six outstanding players as another positive step in the development of West Indies women’s cricket," Dr Hilaire said.
The WICB now has a total of 44 players on contract for the current contract period. This number represents senior men’s players on Central Retainer Contracts (15), Developmental Contracts (8), High Performance Centre Contracts (15) and Women’s Contracts (6).