WICB pressuring players

[skyman]

Nov 9, 2004
Author:

MEDIA RELEASE


The West Indies Players Association (WIPA) wishes to update the public with respect to the invitations issued to prospective players to make themselves available for selection for the Australian tour. These invitations were issued directly to the players by the Board, not withstanding the fact that WIPA is the recognized body for establishing the terms and conditions of engagements of West Indies players. The invitations to players were made public by the Board.


All of this constitutes an attempt to put pressure on individual players to agree to sign on the dotted line, failing which they would not be considered for West Indies selection. It is to be noted that some of the conditions stipulated by the Board have nothing to do with cricket but represent an attempt to exploit the players for commercial purposes.


The players have raised several concerns with and sought the advice of WIPA. Having carefully considered the issues, WIPA has advised its members not to sign the letter of invitation and calls on the board to return to the bargaining table in order that the parties can achieve a mutually satisfactory resolution of the issues involved.


Dinanath Ramnarine
President/CEO

www.wiplayers.com

[The Great DonTalon]

Thursday, November 11, 2004 @ 15:14:45 EST

WICB Under ScrutinyVeteran scribe Tony Cozier believes the latest contract standoff between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the players’ union could put the one-day tour of Australia in jeopardy.

In a Barbados Nation column Thursday, Cozier said the divide between the two sites are “so wide and acrimonious” than a mutually accepted, independent arbitrator might be needed to sort out the mess.

Cozier warned that if neither side backs down from its stance on the current issue, the tour of Australia for the one-day VB Series could be cancelled and lead to sanctions from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The West Indies Players’ Association (WICB) has told the 25-players selected for the pre-tour camp not to sign the invitation contracts on grounds that it constitutes "an attempt to exploit the players for commercial purposes".

But, the WICB is standing firm on the requirement that players must sign to be eligible for selection.

”West Indies cricket is in a delicate state as it is. If it continues to be so divided against itself, it will not stand,” Cozier warned.

”Calm and rational heads are required to save it from itself. If, because of the distrust that has developed between them, they no longer exist in those bodies established specifically to nurture it, they need to be found outside – and quick,” he added.

According to Cozier, the latest brouhaha highlights the deep level of distrust that still exists between the WICB and WIPA. He pointed to language used by WIPA CEO Dinanath Ramnarine that spoke of “ineptness” in the WICB.

”It is the fourth time in the two years since the WIPA was reconstituted and revitalised under the leadership of Ramnarine, the retired Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies leg-spinner, that the two have been openly at loggerheads,” Cozier wrote, detailing altercations prior to the 2002 Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, triggered by Indian players’ concerns over their individual commercial rights and a division of sponsors’ money just before the last World Cup.

The battles also include a one-day strike by players that delayed the 2003 Carib Beer Series semifinals.

”What now seems to be brewing is another prolonged standoff, such as the most infamous at Heathrow Airport in 1998 that delayed the historic tour of South Africa and so harmed the West Indies’ considerable reputation in that country,” Cozier wrote.



www.caribbeancricket.com

[The Great DonTalon]

Tuesday, November 09, 2004 @ 21:54:32 EST

West Indies Players AssociationThe West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is refusing to budge on a requirement that players agree to contracts ahead of a pre-tour camp later this month even as the players' union has instructed the 25 players not to sign the invitation contracts.

The board said it was disappointed at the instruction issued by WIPA to its members and sharply disputed claims made by association president Dinanath Ramnarine that WIPA was not consulted on the contracts.

"A copy of the Match/Tour Contract a copy was provided to WIPA previously on October 7 for comments by October 31," the WICB said in a statement issued late Tuesday. "Despite requests on four separate occasions with reminders of the need to provide the players with the terms and conditions well in advance of the VB triangular One-Day tournament in Australia scheduled for early January, WIPA did not submit any comments on that contract to the WICB at the time of issue of the letters of invitation on 5 November," it added.

The WICB said it "therefore carried out its responsibility" to have a team prepared to leave the region on December 29 by making the invited players aware of the terms and conditions applicable to the tour. The players were informed that the Match/Tour contracts had been submitted to WIPA on October 7 and that at the time of despatch, there had been no response from WIPA.

That assertion conflicts with Ramnarine's statement that the WICB bypassed the association and sent the invitations to the 25 players directly instead of going through the union, which is the recognized body for establishing the terms and conditions of engagement of West Indies players.

The Board is holding firm to its position that the invited players will indicate their availability within the deadline given of 10 days after receipt of the invitation. The camp is due to begin on 29 November in Barbados.


www.caribbeancricket.com

[Rachael]

So what is going on here? Is the board making a mess of things it should get right.. are we seeing major efforts to regain control of a player dominated sport in which power needs to be centralised in the coach.. is WIPA a genuine obstacle to the modernisation of the running of WI cricket.. what's happening?

My impression is that the board are finally starting to get a grip on WI cricket.. and that this sort of reaction is going to be commonplace up until the point where everyone starts showing a willingness to pull together.. but that's just an impression: what's your take, Don?

[Occasional Fan]

Only nine of the 25 players originally selected for the ODIs have signed the controversial acceptance forms and the WICB selectors are now reported to be re-selecting the squad. Surely there must be some room for a better solution to this one?

BBC report here.

[Zainub]

This looks like a serious crisis, last thing Windies needed at this stage really, I hope it gets resolved soon