Revamp for Carib Beer Series?

The 2005-06 Carib Beer Series scheduled to start next week, could be pushed back and entirely revamped.

While there has been no official word from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), media reports have indicated that a lack of funding could prevent the regional first class championship from getting underway on the November 11 scheduled start date. Reports indicate that the WICB are considering reducing the tournament to five rounds of matches between the six territorial sides, before staging the semifinals and the final. Originally, teams were expected to play ten rounds, on a home-and-away basis.

Yesterday, the Jamaica Gleaner quoted Jamaica Cricket Association president and WICB director Jackie Hendriks as confirming the proposed plan to change the tournament's format. "What they plan to do this year is one round, and then semi-finals and final. I am very, very disappointed... I thought last year's season was the start of a proper first-class season for West Indies, who previously had, in my view, the shortest first-class season of all leading Test-playing countries. It's certainly disappointing to know that it has been considered necessary to cut back the duration of the competition."

The reason behind the possible revamp of the competition is said to be lack of funding, with the competition being labeled with a price tag of US$1.2 million. Jamaica are the defending champions in the competition.