West Indies youth players should be part of franchise teams

West Indies Cricket Board's (WICB) director of cricket, Richard Pybus, is looking forward to the six recently formed regional franchise teams incorporating into their set-up the members of the victorious West Indies Under-19 World Cup team.

The franchise teams, which have been in existence for two years, currently compete in the four-day WICB Professional League, as well as the one-day WICB/NAGICO Insurance Super50 Tournament.

WE HAVE A PLAN

"We (WICB) do have a plan coming out of the World Cup, as we do need to be able to meet the expectations of those young players coming out," Pybus told STAR Sports.

"Some of the players coming out of the World Cup will be playing Under-19 cricket this year, and, as such, will be apart of their age-group territorial sides."

He added: "We want the franchise teams, on the other hand, to absorb the other set of players, and make them part of their emerging squads."

The franchise teams, which have contracted players on a yearly basis, are four-day champions Guyana Jaguars, Jamaica Scorpions, Barbados Pride, Leeward Hurricanes, Windward Volcanoes, as well as one-day title holders Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

The Shimron Hetmyer-led West Indies Under-19s, after winning five of six matches, captured the ICC Under-19 World Cup last month after defeating India in the final in Bangladesh.