St. Michael School students participate in Digital CPL camp

Several students of St. Michael School were among a chosen few across the region to take part in the Digicel Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Youth Series Camp which was held yesterday at the Carlton Cricket Club.

As part of the youth development drive of the CPL which is slated to get underway this summer, close to 30 boys and girls got a chance to learn some tips and tricks from some of the best coaches on the island, while getting a chance to rub soldiers with Barbados and West Indies captain Jason Holder, who is the ambassador for the local franchise.

During a break in training yesterday, Digicel Chief Executive Officer Alex Tasker said that his company was excited with the prospects of the camp which is being held in each of the CPL franchise territories Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts, Jamaica and St. Lucia. “As part of our youth development, we continue to give back to the Caribbean and this session is the first in a series of sessions which we have to develop the youth, and to keep the interest in ensuring that we can continue to excel at a junior level going into a senior level. We are also happy to have Jason on board as the ambassador for the Barbados camp and I’m sure he will be very happy to give back to the youth, being a youth champion himself.” Tasker said.

Holder, who was working alongside Barbados Tridents Assistant Coach Vasbert Drakes said that he was glad that he could give back, especially in a time that is vastly different to when he was an up-and-coming youngster in the game. “When I was growing up, there was little opportunity like this one and I think it is a great step in the right direction. We always speak about the infrastructure in the Caribbean and it is something that plenty fans have been crying for in terms of having structures in place to develop our young talent. We have always been able to produce talented cricketers but we haven’t always been able to harness the talent, put it in the right direction and develop it as we should. So special thanks to Digicel for creating this special opportunity.” he said.

With Tasker speaking about the ever-changing nature of the game as he alluded to the new 100-ball version, Drakes said that he embraced the idea of teaching the young players all forms of the game as it continued to evolve.

“For me, I am all about change and I think it is a beautiful opportunity to develop the next generation of players and get them to understand the game from an early age and become competent at what they do from early on.” Drakes said. (MP)