Players support golf day for retired West Indies cricketers

West Indies ODI skipper Jason Holder will be part of the event

Bridgetown (Barbados), June 20 (IANS) Several cricketers are excited as preparations continue for the first West Indies Retired Player Foundation Golf Day, slated for Sunday at the prestigious Sandy Lane Country Club.

"This is a great event and I believe it will be a tremendous success. It is for a very worthy cause and I am looking forward to participating," said Jason Holder, the West Indies One-Day International (ODI) captain.

"As a young cricketers, I know it is part of my responsibility to make a contribution to West Indies cricket in any way I can and I am eagerly looking forward to Sunday as we hit the greens to support the 'Retired Players drive'."

The event, hosted by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) the and West Indies Players' Association (WIPA), is supported by Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

It has attracted a number of the region's best players as well as several past and present West Indies cricketers.

"I'm not a big golfer, but I'm sure happy to offer my support to the efforts of the West Indies Retired Players Foundation as they embark on this drive to do something meaningful and tangible for many of those who paved the way for West Indies cricket," said Darren Sammy, the West Indies T20 captain.

"I see this as the start of something special, which will grow."

Several senior officials of the International Cricket Council, as well as participants in the CPL tournament, are also scheduled to tee off.

The West Indies Retired Players Foundation was formed last year and part of its mandate is the development of programmes and assisting with the welfare, where applicable of former players who represented the Caribbean team at the international level.

"As a former West Indies cricketer is vitally important for me to support the efforts of the West Indies Retired Players Foundation, as they look to do something position and meaningful for the many players who have represented the West Indies team," said Sir Richie Richardson, former West Indies captain and Team Manager.

"I had no hesitation in signing on for the 'Retired Players drive' and Sunday's tournament promises to be exciting as we meet old friends and make new friends all for a very worthy cause."