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Former top West Indies opening batsman Desmond Haynes is urging cricket officials to put a pension plan in place for former Barbados cricketers. The Government senator made his suggestion in an address at a dinner in honour of former Barbados leg-spinner George Linton at the Lester Vaughan School on Saturday night.

"We must begin to recognise cricket as a profession and, indeed, treat all other professional sports persons with the same respect as we do other professions," he said. "We must stop making sport at sports."

Linton was a consistent performer for Barbados as a leg-spinner and reliable lower-order batsman in 23 first-class matches in which he made 583 runs (ave. 23.82) and took 66 wickets (ave. 30.71).

This year, the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) is staging a series of activities in which all funds raised will be presented to Linton.

"I wish to take this opportunity to call on the BCA to facilitate a pension plan for former cricketers like George and, indeed, those who are playing now, so that they would not need to go cap in hand to the public after retirement," Haynes said.

"Benefit functions like this one would be a bonus."

He added that someone like Linton, who had made such an outstanding contribution to the game at the local level, should not be made to "suffer in his old age".

Since his retirement as a player, Linton has been coaching and several of his charges have gone on to play for national senior and youth teams.

"Not many people realise the sacrifices made by people like George who, in the main, volunteer their services to help in the success of good cricketers," Haynes said.

Haynes was Linton's Barbados teammate in the 1980s and his roommate when both were playing in the leagues in England.

Haynes described Linton as a man with determination and courage.

"What sets George apart, is his dedication to his purpose of assisting young cricketers," Haynes said.

"He can be called upon at any time to share his views and to offer advice. His value is in his ability to get things done."

© Barbados Nation