PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The Trinidadian beer maker, Carib Brewery Limited (CBL), says the inability to arrive at a “fitting” agreement was the reason for its decision to withdraw as sponsor of the West Indies first-class cricket tournament.

In a press release regarding the issue, Carib Beer confirmed its departure from the four-day series and also announced that it has relinquished its position as the official beer of West Indies cricket.

After six years of sponsorship of the tournament, CBL declined to enter into a new agreement after what it called “a strategic review of all sponsorships”.

“The conclusion was that the opportunities offered by the WICB did not fit with our priorities at this time. Also we are unable to capitalise on the regional nature of the series to the extent necessary to justify the contractual obligations,” the release stated.

The CBL said it contributed in excess of US$4 million to the regional tournament and feels “privileged” to have played a role in developing first-class cricket in the region.

“As Carib Brewery looks back on our six-year investment, we feel privileged to have played a significant role in the effort to raise the standard of first-class cricket in the region.

“And while we know that West Indies cricket is still on a journey to regain its past position on the world stage we believe it is on the right track,” added the release, which came from the desk of CBL Events Manager Colin Murray.

CBL alluded to its role in facilitating the emergence of young talent from the region – providing a platform to the international stage – and named current World Top-10 ranked players Dwayne Bravo and Jerome Taylor among those who have come through the Carib Beer Series ranks.

“This prestigious event allows our young cricketers to showcase their talents regionally, while demonstrating to the world that the West Indies still has an abundance of talent that simply needs nurturing.

“Some of these young cricketers like Dwayne Bravo, Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards and Denesh Ramdin, to name a few, have come through the ranks of the Carib Beer Series,” the release stated.

Taylor is currently rated No.8 in the world in the ICC’s One Day International (ODI) bowlers’ rankings and Bravo is fourth among all-rounders in Test cricket.

CBL said it still supports West Indies cricket throughout the region via “significant sponsorship” of local club cricket in territories such as Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago and St Kitts, and will continue to regularly assess the level of its involvement.

“We thank the WICB, the Local Cricket Boards, the cricketers, and most of all the fans, for their steadfast support over the years, and we wish the entire cricketing fraternity a successful 2009,” the release concluded.