CWI issues new retainer contracts

St John's, ANTIGUA:

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has confirmed the central contracts for Windies Men's and Windies Women's players for the 2018/2019 year.

While the previous contracts expired at the end of last month, the new contracts will be backdated to July 1, 2018 and run until June 30, 2019, as CWI aligns all players on the same contract period (Franchise contracts used to expire on July 31, and Windies contracts on September 30).

Chief Executive Officer Johnny Grave says, "All Windies and Franchise players are now contracted from July 1 to June 30, with their performances assessed from April 1 to March 31. This will allow for a more efficient process of reviewing, renewing and awarded contracts within West Indies professional cricket and give everyone at least three months to plan for the season ahead. Our season will start each year with the Caribbean Premier League, followed by the Super50 Cup and finish on the 4-Day competition."

The decision to offer all format, red and white ball contracts, according to Chairman of Selectors, Courtney Browne, "allows for the better management of players as it relates to their development. At the time of recommending contracts in June some players would have developed in different formats after the process had finished, so their recent performances can't be considered until the next contract cycle."

Rovman Powell, Stafanie Taylor and Chedean Nation the three Jamaicans to secure contracts. Evin Lewis was offered a white ball contract and declined.

The full contracts list is:

All Format Retainers:

Jason Holder

Shai Hope

Alzarri Joseph

*Kemar Roach

White Ball Retainers:

Rovman Powell

Carlos Brathwaite

Ashley Nurse

Red Ball Retainers:

Devendra Bishoo

Kraigg Brathwaite

Roston Chase

Miguel Cummins

Shane Dowrich

Shannon Gabriel

Shimron Hetmyer

Kieran Powell

Development Retainers:

*Sunil Ambris

*Keemo Paul

*Raymon Reifer

*New Players on retainers

Windies Women:

Stafanie Taylor

Merissa Aguilleira

Raniece Boyce

Shemaine Campbelle

Shamilia Connell

Deandra Dottin

Afy Fletcher

Hayley Matthews

Anisa Mohammed

Chedean Nation

Akeira Peters

Shakera Selman