An effort is being made to encourage clubs to boycott the 1998 Barbados Cricket Association's (BCA) domestic competitions unless there is prize money.
The man at the forefront of the move is former BCL Division 1 fast bowler Barry Callender, who says the BCA's marketing committee has done a poor job in failing to attract sponsorship for any of this season's competitions.
``I am urging all clubs not to start the season because there must be prize money in our cricket. You cannot toil for seven months and get nothing,'' Callender told NATIONSPORT yesterday.
``I think I will get a lot of support. A lot of people out there are upset but they are not saying anything about it.''
The 1998 season opens on Saturday with 77 clubs and schools registered for either the Division 1, Intermediate, Division 2 or Schools' competitions.
Callender's comments come following the BCA's stunning disclosure to clubs last Wednesday that there would be no prize money for the first time in more than 20 years.
He went as far as to say that the less heralded Barbados Cricket League (BCL) had put the BCA to shame.
``The BCL has shown some imagination by implementing a bonus points system and despite that association not being rich, it still continues to offer prize money and incentives for its many divisions,'' Callender said.
For the last couple of seasons, the BCA offered $84 600 at its annual Instant Money Game awards ceremony. Clubs pocketed $79 700 and individual awards totalled $4 900.
The general feeling is that many clubs depend on prize money to meet expenses such as groundsman's fees, lunch, balls and registration fees, a view shared by Callender.
``It is a shame that most of the clubs need help and the BCA cannot offer support in any way,'' he said.
``The chaos that is prevailing in the BCA at the moment has been transferred into a low-key atmosphere for the start of the season.
``I will not be surprised if many teams fail to field 11 players for each game.''
Callender emphasised that the downturn had come about at a time when other sporting associations were offering more attractive packages.
He cited examples such as the Barbados Football Association which is awarding the 1998 krosfyah/Olympio champions $20 000.
In previous years, the BCA Division 1 champions collected $8 000.
Callender, who now represents Barbados Workers' Union in the Intermediate division, said the BCA had lost its direction and the time had come for a major reconstruction of cricket in the island.
``No committee seems to be functioning at a satisfactory standard. As a result the game and the players are victims of poor management,'' he said.
``We need qualified individuals to sit on these committees and not just past players.''