PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad– Caribbean countries could soon have to bid for international matches being played in the region, West Indies Cricket Board director Deryck Murray said recently.

Murray told CMC Sports the matter, which had been discussed at the WICB level, would see countries bidding for matches like they did for the Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean last year.

“There has been talk at the level of the board to introduce the bidding system like we had during the cricket World Cup last year,” said Murray, also the president of the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board.

“The thinking at the board level is that we should go this way and they were even thinking of using the method for the upcoming Sri Lankan and Australian series in the West Indies.

“Obviously they have not used the method for the twin tours but it is earmarked to come on stream.

“Maybe, they may bring it on when the ICC Champions Trophy comes to the Caribbean in 2010,” Murray added.

Murray went on to explain the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed bidding system.

“If this system is used the theory behind it is that the WICB will always make a profit and the days for losses will be over,” the former West Indies vice-captain pointed out.

“In this instance, the regional cricket boards will have to bid for matches and guarantee the WICB of a certain quantity of revenue.

“The WICB will then give the regional board what they estimate it will cost them in staging the match. The regional boards at the end of the matches, will then have to hand over what was promised to the WICB. If they make more than was promised by the WICB, then they would make a profit for themselves.

“The WICB will then sell the media rights for all the matches and then share that revenue among the countries that hosted matches.

“The disadvantage of this system is that the game could be confined to certain countries and will be opposite to what the WICB started to do and that was spreading the game throughout the region.

“If the smaller countries cannot bid for matches, then international cricket may never be played in that country.” CMC