WI players salaries unpaid since ENG tour

[The Great DonTalon]

Saturday, November 13, 2004 @ 19:50:41 EST

WICB Under ScrutinyEXCLUSIVE: The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has not paid match fees and sponsorship money to players from as far back as the England tour of the West Indies, according to information reaching CaribbeanCricket.com.

The unpaid money includes match fees for the third and fourth Tests during the recent tour of England, match fees for the ICC Champions Trophy tournament, sponsorship shares from Sandals Resorts and LNM Group and funds withheld from player salaries to cover fines and disciplinary infractions.

Officials from the WICB did not return calls for comment but sources say the board is still struggling with the same cash flow crisis that caused a delay recently in paying a US$10,000 prize to groundsmen in Barbados who won the "Pitch and Grounds Incentives".

"We're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid bonuses from team sponsors and match fees. This is a clear breach of contract," said a source close to the board who is familiar with the issue.

Match fees for both Tests and ODIs are due and payable by the WICB under terms of tour contracts agreed to between the board and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA).

These fees are typically paid in installments and should be paid in full by the time a tour or tournament ends but it has been two months since the end of the Test and ODI series against England and the players have not been paid.

There are six contractual obligations that have not yet been met by the WICB:

# England in the West Indies, 2004 - 10% match fees withheld to cover potential fines or disciplinary actions.

# West Indies in England, 2004 - 10% match fees withheld to cover potential fines or disciplinary actions.

# West Indies in England, 2004 - Match fees for the 3rd and 4th Tests.

# West Indies in England, 2004 - Match fees for seven (7) one day internationals in the NatWest series.

# West Indies in England, 2004 - Sponsorship split from Sandals Resorts to cover the Tests and NatWest ODI tournament.

# ICC Champions Trophy, 2004 - Sponsorship share from LNM Group, the team's sponsor.

When the LNM Group team sponsorship was announced in September this year, WICB president Teddy Griffith said the the money would open up another stream of revenue [besides regular pay and prize money during the Champions Trophy] for the team.

"These streams provide a challenge and incentive to the team to lift the standard of their cricketing performance so that they will be able to maximize the financial rewards that are available for consistently good and competitive performances during the tournament," Griffith said, making it clear the team's financial bonuses were directly related to their performance.

But, since winning the tournament, not a cent from that money has been disbursed the players.

www.caribbeancricket.com

[Occasional Fan]

Well, if this is true, it would certainly go some way to explaining the present tension between the WICB and the WIPA. And, leaving aside the issue of what has and has not been paid, what kind of organisation (or player) signs a contract which allows for fees to be withheld for potential fines? This really is outrageous. If the other boards do it, then it's outrageous of them as well. I wouldn't allow my employer to withhold 10% of my salary in case I pick up some speeding tickets in a company car - why should the WICB be withholding 10% from its players for penalties before they have been assessed?

[The Great DonTalon]

the entire setup here is extremely slack and unprofessional...I hope this guy King comes and shake the whole apple cart..their is great oppsition to him being here because they see it as a race matter in terms of persons saying that we have no respect for our own and that the only people we are willing to listen to are whites.

Now iam a black man and this is 100% true as sad as it is to say..the inferioirity complex in ingrained in our psyche. King will come and we will listen.

[Beny]

That's quite sad really. I hope it's not true. Either way I think King will be good for the job.

I'm with OF on the 10% issue. Players should get fined and leave it at that. They can pay the money up later.

[Occasional Fan]

An admission here that players have not been paid. Shameful. And some fork-tongued nonsense about always meeting commitments to the players. If paying salaries several months late is meeting commitments, then I'm a Dutchman.

Cricinfo report here.

[The Great DonTalon]

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has confirmed our report that it was in breach of its contractual obligations to pay match fees and sponsorship shares to cricketers. Faced with a demand for payment issued by the players' association, the board said it will start issuing payments on November 17 and "expects to conclude the process within the next month if not before."

"The Board is determined to meet all its outstanding commitments to the players as it views these payments as its top priority," the WICB said in a statement.

Interestingly, every member of the board's secretariat staff and consultants have been paid their salaries on time.

The WICB also conceded it was not the first time it was tardy in paying what is due to the players.

"The Board has always honoured its obligations to the players even though there have been occasions when such payments have been delayed, as is the case on this occasion and appreciates the patience and understanding of the players with respect to the settling of financial arrangements," the board added.

As previously reported, the WICB is waiting for the first drawdown on a new loan from a Barbados bank to deal with its ongoing cash flow crisis.

There are six contractual obligations that have not yet been met by the WICB:

England in the West Indies, 2004 - 10% match fees withheld to cover potential fines or disciplinary actions.
West Indies in England, 2004 - 10% match fees withheld to cover potential fines or disciplinary actions.
West Indies in England, 2004 - Match fees for the 3rd and 4th Tests.
West Indies in England, 2004 - Match fees for seven (7) one day internationals in the NatWest series.
West Indies in England, 2004 - Sponsorship split from Sandals Resorts to cover the Tests and NatWest ODI tournament.
ICC Champions Trophy, 2004 - Sponsorship share from LNM Group, the team's sponsor.

[The Great DonTalon]

ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada - Taiwan has pledged to rebuild Grenada's stadium complex that was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in September.

The Far East country is providing US$40 million, and a team of engineers is expected on the island for assessment and design.

Taiwan's Ambassador to Grenada Alan Lii-Shang Jiang made this disclosure on Tuesday when he presented the money to Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell.

"This money is for the rebuilding of the Grenada national stadium that will be completely finished in the year 2006, because Grenada will host the ICC World Cup," the Ambassador said.



He added: "A Taiwanese engineering team will arriving in Grenada before the end of the month, they will come here to design and also assessment for the stadium."

In thanking the Taiwan Government for the donation, Prime Minister Mitchell reiterated to the Grenadian people the importance of rebuilding the stadium complex, that includes the Queen's Park cricket ground and the adjoining football and track & field stadium, ahead of the World Cup.

"For those who said that we shouldn't be talking about a new stadium, we want to say to them that if we did not have a stadium that money would not be there," he said.

"This is money committed to a stadium and the additional support of the Government and people of Taiwan would have come regardless of if a stadium was there or not."

During a tour of the facility in the aftermath of the hurricane, FIFA's Vice President Jack Warner promised to raise money to assist in the rebuilding of the Complex that is among regional venues selected to host matches in the ICC World Cup West Indies 2007.

Grenada is one of three countries that have received extra regional assistance in their preparations for the global event. Guyana is building its new cricket ground with help from the Indian Government, and Antigua & Barbuda are also constructing a new facility with assistance from the Chinese Government.



www.windiescricket.com

[Rachael]

This is encouraging!

Do keep these reports coming Don: I'm sure most of these things would escape the attention of those of us not resident in the Carribean without your help!

[The Great DonTalon]

no problem Rachel..I like to share this kinda stuff

[Beny]

Gee that's nice... I wonder what the political agenda is here. Last time I checked Tiwan was'nt in a position to be giving out that sort of money. Mabey they are just changing the tune since Chang Ki-Sheck (spelt that wrong but then again I spell most things wrong.)