BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Over US$15 million has been budgeted on a number of tours, tournaments, and development projects by the West Indies Cricket Board over their next financial year, which ends next October.

The WICB directors approved a budget of US$41 million for the coming year, and a number of new initiatives aimed at driving the development of the sport in the region, with the ultimate goal of returning West Indies to its competitive best internationally have taken a large slice of the pie.

“October 1 is the start of the cricket and financial year of the WICB, and therefore in many ways the meeting focussed largely on the programme of activities for the year, and the approval of the budget,” said WICB chief executive officer Ernest Hilaire at a media conference yesterday, following a two-day WICB directors meeting.

“The WICB has taken a decision — in terms of its strategic direction — to spend a lot more resources on player development, as well as cricket development during the coming year.”

In terms of development, one of the major announcements is that West Indies A will play Pakistan A in two “Tests”, three One-Dayers, and two Twenty20 matches next month in the Caribbean. A full schedule is expected during the coming week.

“We also expect the West Indies A team during the course of the cricket year to undertake one overseas tour,” said Hilaire.

“We are still in discussions with the full member that will host us, so we will not release any more details at this time, but this will be a continuation of our A team tours that we started last year.”

The WICB will also introduce standard fitness testing for all contracted and selected players three times, in November, January and June of each contract year.

“There is a fitness manual that has been developed, and it has been distributed to all stakeholders for comments,” said Hilaire.

“The fitness manual will clearly establish the standards that are supposed to be met, and the battery of tests that will be involved.”

There will also be anti-doping and anti-corruption education workshops along with increased anti-doping testing throughout the year.

“We expect this will be one of the duties of our new Player Relations Officer (Ayana Cooper),” said Hilaire.

The WICB’s directors have also made it mandatory that there be preparatory camps for players prior to every tour by a representative West Indies side.

“The practice of the team leaving the Caribbean for a tour without a preparatory camp will be phased out,” said Hilaire.

The WICB will also host specialist camps in the areas of batting, bowling, fielding and wicketkeeping for the elite players at all junior age group and senior levels across the region.

To this end, the WICB has appointed two project officers to oversee the Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket Programme, and the Digicel Youth Cricket Development Programme.

“They will be dedicated to manage the two programmes across the region,” said Hilaire. “The two programmes will not be allowed to be programmes that essentially depend on the territorial boards to make it a reality.”