Julian Hunte ... What worries us is whether the action of the ICC in the case of Mr Bucknor might create even more problems for the ICC and international cricket down the line. - File

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

THE WEST Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has identified three key objectives over the next four years which it hopes will restore the game in the region to the top.

The three objectives are part of the WICB's Strategic Plan for 2008 to 2012, which was approved in principle by the directors at a meeting last weekend in the Antigua capital.

"West Indies cricket will once more be at the pinnacle of world cricket," said a news release from the WICB.

"This key premise of the report of the governance review committee is the basis of the Strategic Plan for 2008 to 2012."

The WICB has identified as its specific objectives:

1. West Indies teams will improve their current standings and will be among the top-four teams in the world by 2012.

2. The WICB will be a world-class organisation that is flexible, responsive and accountable by 2012.

3. The WICB will develop cricket at all levels and in all countries of the region and will have a 300 per cent increase in the pool of available players for each aspect of the sport by 2012.

The WICB disclosed it has also agreed to continue negotiations with different organisations, including Stanford Twenty20, for agreements that will significantly improve its finances and enhance the thrust in cricket, especially cricket development.

Professional league

"The WICB will also seek to have a professional league in place by 2009," the news release said. "In the meantime, the WICB is preparing a report for discussion with the Sub-Committee on Cricket of the CARICOM heads of government."

Julian Hunte, president of the WICB, noted that the regional body's actions in the future will be determined by the recommendations of the Governance Review Committee report and the Strategic Plan.

"The WICB, upon receipt of the Report of the Governance Committee, asked its member boards to review the recommendations and to attend the special meeting held on February 22 to discuss how best to integrate the best practices included in the report with its strategic planning," Hunte said.

"The Strategic Plan, presented by Chief Executive Officer Dr Donald Peters, addresses most of the recommendations of the Governance Review Committee," he said.