Cricket Scotland plans expanded contract system

Published on Saturday 3 October 2009 19:48

CRICKET Scotland is set to overhaul its system of player contracts from next season, focusing more of its resources on retaining a core group of full-time players during the summer. It currently has three players employed year-round, with the rest paid match-by-match.

The decision, which is understood to have received the backing of the International Cricket Council, is likely to provide more opportunities for the Saltires squad to train together between April and August when the schedule is most demanding.

The senior national side are currently slated to be involved in a minimum of 36 days of competitive cricket next summer, divided between the revamped domestic Pro40 competition, the Intercontinental Cup, the World Cricket League, and a number of one-day internationals. And the calendar will become more crowded should Gavin Hamilton's men qualify for the World Twenty20 via February's qualifiers in Dubai.

Chief executive Roddy Smith

said: "The plan is that we'll be able to extend the number of players on contracts, whether it's full-time or on a five-month basis over the summer. It would allow us to have more of the guys who don't have full-time jobs to concentrate on cricket, supplemented by those who can fit it in around (their jobs]. And if you look at what's coming up, it's likely to be our busiest-ever summer."

New Zealand will meet Australia in the Champions Trophy final tomorrow after an unbeaten half-century from Grant Elliott helped them cruise to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in South Africa.

The all-rounder hit a measured 75 and forged what turned out to be a match-winning 104-run stand with captain Daniel Vettori (41) as the Black Caps eased past the 234-run target with 13 balls to spare.