Japan reveals new contract system

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The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) has signed up 20 national team players to contracts for the 2012 season.

Such a system is a new initiative in what High Performance manager Chris Ferguson believes will be a positive advancement for the game in Japan.

"The JCA is still in its infancy," said Ferguson, whose idea the contracts are. "Part of our high performance strategy is to develop a depth of high performing elite cricketers who perform on the international stage and inspire future generations. The aim is to have these contracts being highly sort after over the next few years as we develop more depth, with intense competition for places."

Ferguson is of the belief these contracts will help to introduce a new professionalism to cricket in Japan.

"I want a squad who is 100 per cent dedicated to cricket outside of their working lives," said Ferguson. "We understand the daily pressure players are under with work, study and family commitments but it gives the JCA and the team some security. They now have the responsibility to attend training camps, sessions, Premier League matches, make themselves available for international tours and help develop cricket in their communities."

Ferguson also wished to highlight how the make-up of the first group of contracted players shows the development of local talent in the country.

He said: "The players in this squad show how much work that the JCA has done to promote the young indigenous Japanese players. 16 of the 20 players are indigenous Japanese players."

The contracted players for 2012 are:

  1. Tatsuro Chino (Captain)

  2. Munir Ahmed

  3. Takuro Hagihara

  4. Ko Irie

  5. Raheel Kano

  6. Hanif Khan

  7. Masaomi Kobayashi

  8. Daniel Mee

  9. Naoki Miyaji

  10. Naotsune Miyaji

  11. Satoshi Nakano

  12. Takumi Nomura

  13. Kazuyuki Ogawa

  14. Tomoki Ota

  15. Alex Patmore

  16. Jarrad Shearer

  17. Seiji Sugiura

  18. Tsuyoshi Takada

  19. Makoto Taniyama

  20. Fumihiko Uegaki