CRICKET Wales may face a Government inquiry over its decision to make every young person fork out £450 to play for their country.
An outraged Welsh Assembly minister has requested immediate action to correct the “unacceptable elitism”.
The uproar has no precedent at any level of Welsh cricket, or any other major sport in the Principality.
Assembly minister, Neil McEvoy, has written to the Sports Minister, accusing the game’s governing body of denying equal opportunity and his scathing comments left no doubt about the depth of feeling over the issue.
The minister was responding to Cricket Wales’ decision that no player, aged between 11 and 17, will be considered for the national team unless they’ve paid £450 towards a coaching scheme.
Along with Cricket Wales, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have agreed to approve and fund the Regional Performance programme by more than £150,000.
Neither Cricket Wales nor the ECB would comment on the policy that applies equally to boys and girls.
Mr. McEvoy said last night: “Sport is supposed to bring people together, and give opportunities, yet Cricket Wales is doing the opposite.
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