New SVGCA executive lays down new pitch for cricket

The immediate priorities of the recently installed executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association (SVGCA) were laid out during a press conference last Friday.{{more}}

And, topping the batting order would be youth development, said president of the SVGCA Kishore Shallow.

“Currently we have revived the youth committee …One of the things going forward that we are going to be dealing with and this programme is going be chaired by second VP Denis Byam, is a talent identification programme, where would have cricket throughout the country and have a team actually going out and identifying young prospects, pooling them together and providing them with a programme co-ordinated by our local coaches,” Shallow disclosed.

He lamented the fact that St Vincent and the Grenadines has not won a single match in the last three years in the Windwards Under-15 tournament.

Shallow said also part of the overall youth aspect, is getting youth cricket into the primary schools.

He punctuated the association’s intentions by reiterating one of his mantras, that of inclusion.

Shallow noted that later this month, the executive, along with other stakeholders of cricket here, will hold a retreat to fine-tune and tweak the plans.

“On the 21st of June, which is about two weeks from now, we are going to host a retreat with the executive and approximately 20 other officials, where we will sit down for a day and discuss local cricket, the development of youth cricket in St Vincent and the Grenadines,” Shallow announced.

A passionate sounding Shallow said: “We plan to have a national cricket drive …. I believe that we need to carry cricket to the different parts of St Vincent and the Grenadines and different parts means in the Grenadines, as well as in the past we have pretty much forgot that persons in the Grenadines can play cricket as well.”

The local cricket head said that this will take the form of festival matches involving current and past national players and possible regional players.

Touching on other facets of development, Shallow indicated that plans are ahead to have an indoor cricket facility constructed in the shortest possible time.

“Also I think our players are short- changed in terms of infrastructural facilities when compared to countries regionally and internationally… We are currently awaiting a draft design from a local architect for an indoor facility … We are in discussion with a prospective funder, so once the estimation and so forth come forward, then we could obviously make a bit more stride,” Shallow revealed.

Shallow later disclosed that in discussions with members of the National Sports Council, sites at Arnos Vale and Sion Hill, have been identified as possible locations for that facility for the sport.

Last week’s press conference was held at the association’s office in the AVESCO Club House, at the entrance to the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

The new executive, headed by Shallow, was voted into office May 24, following a successful vote of no confidence against then president Julian Jack, which paved the way for elections of a new executive.

Shallow served as assistant secretary in the former executive, before being elected unopposed as president.

The current executive will serve for about six months; thereafter, the Annual General Meeting will be called, which involves the holding of elections.(RT)