Former national and Leeward Islands cricketer Kadeem Phillip is calling on the Ministry of Sports and programme coordinator Ridley Jacobs to "do better" in the management of schools cricket in Antigua and Barbuda.
Phillip's appeal follows a decision by local match officials to declare the Rising Sun Grounds unfit for play during the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket schools programme — a development that has drawn sharp criticism from the former player.
Phillip urged the Ministry to "get serious" about the schools cricket programme, arguing that the current state of affairs is doing a disservice to young cricketers who depend on the initiative to develop their skills and gain competitive experience.
The Rising Sun Grounds ruling has highlighted broader concerns about the infrastructure and organisation surrounding schools cricket, with Phillip suggesting that more attention and resources need to be directed toward ensuring the programme runs efficiently and provides appropriate playing conditions for students.
As a former representative at both the national and regional level, Phillip stressed that schools cricket plays a vital role in the cricket pipeline for Antigua and Barbuda, and that neglecting it risks undermining the development of future talent.
