THE Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Technology (UTech) at Sabina Park which will see eight promising players admitted at the institution each year.

UTech’s Director of Sports Anthony Davis said the relationship was forged as a result of the common goal shared by both entities.

“It started out with our need to improve the academic delivery that is being offered in sports. The JCA is also interested in the development of their players, so we came together for this MOU. The JCA would annually select persons who want to be trained at the tertiary level and they would be admitted into just about any course that they choose…,” he said.

JCA president Paul Campbell hailed the approach as the way forward for cricket in Jamaica and the region.

“We at the JCA recognise the need to forge a relationship (with UTech). We’re mindful of the part that Jamaica cricket must play in restoring West Indies to the pinnacle of world cricket. We’re also mindful of the need to find institutions with the requisite skills and resources to help us to chart that course as we continue on that road,” he said.

Added Campbell: “The organisation that I’m privileged to lead has decided that we must… (encourage) young cricketers to have the opportunity to be formally educated at the tertiary level while still being able to enjoy the game.

“The JCA also has the desire to… (provide) specific and dedicated programmes for the training and upgrading of our managers, administrators, coaches, trainers, physio-therapists and others.”

UTech is home to the MVP Track Club which trains several world-class athletes like Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser, world and Olympic 400m hurdles champion Melaine Walker, world sprint hurdles champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton and former 100 metres world record-holder Asafa Powell.

Davis said UTech would be able to expand its talent pool with the guaranteed admission of top young cricketers each year and said

an exchange programme could also be realised.

“UTech would benefit from an increased student intake and we would also benefit by having a better cricket team. Remember that all these students coming in would be cricketers, so they would naturally be expected to be a part of the UTech cricket team.

“We can also have exchange programmes so UTech students could go to study in India, England or New Zealand for a semester and students from any of those countries could come here to UTech. Ultimately you could see UTech’s team going out with someone from India or New Zealand on that cricket team,” Davis said.

He added that his vision is to merge modern science with some of the basic components of cricket, which would include pitch preparation, outfield maintenance and coaching.

The Papine-based institution recently increased its scope of teaching programmes to include a Bachelor of Sports Science degree with specialisations in Athletic Training, Sports Management, and the Art and Science of Coaching. The Faculty of Science and Sport was launched earlier this year.