Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Cricket Anyone => Topic started by: socafighter on October 17, 2014, 05:41:12 PM
-
West Indies in India 2014-15
Players hold WICB responsible for pullout
Nagraj Gollapudi
October 17, 2014
'Repercussions of pullout will be huge'
The West Indies players have said the WICB was responsible for the decision to pull out of their ongoing tour of India because of a dispute over the payment structure. In a letter to WICB president Dave Cameron, West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo wrote the players were "disheartened and extremely disappointed" that the board had decided to engage with the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) despite the players' instruction not to do so with regard to discussions on their behalf.
The failure to heed the players' appeal and to find a resolution to the payment-structure dispute, which the players felt left them disadvantaged, was a "grave injustice," according to Bravo and had left to the decision to abandon the tour after the fourth ODI in Dharamsala.
West Indies' participation in the tour of India had been in doubt before the first ODI in Kochi, when the players expressed concerns about the new memorandum of understanding (MoU) and combined business agreement signed by WICB and WIPA in September. The players felt that under the new structure their payments would be affected adversely by as much as 90%.
Acting as the players' representative, Bravo sought answers from WIPA chief executive and president Wavell Hinds to questions over the MoU, which the captain said the players had not seen to date. Bravo asked Hinds to step down, a demand that was refused. Bravo then sought WICB's help to resolve the matter, but Cameron responded on saying the board would communicate only with WIPA as the players representative. That step from WICB, Bravo said, forced the players to take the extreme measure of pulling out of the tour.
"We were truly hoping that the WICB together with WIPA and/or the players would do everything in their power to seriously address the concerns of the players. Regrettably, this has not happened," Bravo wrote in an email to Cameron before the fourth ODI.
"Mr. President, having taken the field in good faith, [we] appealed to WIPA to address our concerns to no avail and asked the WICB to demonstrate with action, what is often bandied about in words, namely that they are interested in player welfare and partnership, it seems to us that there has been no reciprocal action
"As a consequence and as a matter of principle, we cannot be party to this grave injustice. The players regretfully wish to advise that they can no longer accept this situation, which has affected each and every player in a very negative way. The players are under tremendous stress and undue pressure. We have informed the Manager and Coach of our decision to return home with the hope that these issues will be addressed to the satisfaction of all."
In the letter to Bravo where he said the WICB would only deal with the WIPA as the players representative, Cameron had asked the team to focus on the task at hand: "complete the series successfully." Bravo, however, told Cameron the players had only played the first four ODIs "in good faith" but that stance could not be misinterpreted as their acceptance of the MoU. "Our decision to play in India was in no way intended to convey an acceptance by the players of the unreasonable terms and conditions put forward to us by WICB nor was it intended as an expression of our acceptance of the purported new Memorandum of Understanding."
In his communication to Cameron and Hinds, Bravo had said that until the dispute was resolved, the players should be paid under the old structure, which would benefit all parties. Cameron did not agree and argued in the favour of the new MoU. "For the record, I would point out to you our view that the new MOU/CBA creates a clear, sustainable, long-term compensation structure, so that we avoid the uncertainties and confusion associated with previous one - off negotiations on a case-by-case basis and the loose, informal arrangements of the past."
Cameron also had indicated the WICB would be happy "mediating the apparent issues between yourselves and WIPA - and are willing if invited, to do so" but only under the new guidelines set under the September MoU. Bravo, however, asked how the WICB could play a mediating role when it was party to the agreement players did not accept.
"We note your offer to mediate since in your view this is a matter between WIPA and its members. We wish to state that while you may have been well intended, the offer to mediate on a document that the WICB is a party to cannot be entertained," Bravo said.
The players have been angered by Hinds' claim that a resolution was passed approving the new pay structure at a WIPA AGM, which was attended by senior West Indies players Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan, on February 1. Bravo has been adamant in his exchanges with Hinds that no vote was taken and no resolution passed.
Bravo told Cameron the players were not against reform and would support WICB as long as they were brought on board. "The players' issue is that there has been no resolution, no mandate, no consultation, no prior Board approval as far as WIPA is concerned and yet there is an agreement of unreasonable terms and conditions. In addition to the issue of deficient representation there is a case that the purported MOU may be wholly unjust and unfair and the new salary structure is untenable. In these circumstances the players feel there is sufficient basis to ask for its termination and its renegotiation."
The fourth ODI in Dharamsala began with the West Indies players standing beside Bravo at the toss while their captain said, "Time to make a decision," and news of the pullout broke during the first innings.
Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo
RSS Feeds: Nagraj Gollapudi
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
-
Sri Lanka to fill West Indies void in India
Sa'adi Thawfeeq
October 17, 2014
Sri Lanka agree in principle to tour India
Sri Lanka have agreed to fill the void that has been created by West Indies abandoning their current tour of India because of a payment structure dispute between the players and the WICB and WIPA. They will play a series of five ODIs in November.
"In principle we have agreed to accept India's invitation to play five one-day internationals," SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said on Friday. "Initially India wanted us to play a T20 international as well but we decided that with the World Cup only a few months away, playing five ODIs would be beneficial to both teams."
Ranatunga said the five ODIs would be played between November 1 and 15 and that a final itinerary was awaited from the BCCI. He said the decision to accept India's invitation was taken after consultation with the Sri Lankan coaching staff and the national selectors.
This will be Sri Lanka's first tour to India in almost five years. The BCCI's working committee, in consultation with the tour, programme and fixtures committee, will decide the itinerary of the series in Hyderabad on October 21. It remains to be seen if all the five venues that were supposed to host the remaining games in the series against West Indies - Kolkata, Cuttack, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Ahmedabad - will be allotted a match each in the alternate series.
At the moment, only Kolkata is assured of a match. "It had been decided to award a match to CAB following their request to host an international match to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Eden Gardens, so Kolkata will stage a match," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said. He also confirmed that the annual Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi lecture, which was to be delivered by VVS Laxman in Kolkata on October 20, will be rescheduled and held ahead of the Kolkata ODI.
West Indies decided to pull out of their India tour after Friday's fourth ODI in Dharamsala. The dispute between the players and administration had emerged ahead of the first match of the series and no resolution was found despite several letters being sent back and forth between the captain Dwayne Bravo, the WICB and WIPA.
RSS Feeds: Sa'adi Thawfeeq
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
-
Cost of a collapso series
Written by Bharat Sundaresan | Mumbai | Posted: October 18, 2014 2:02 am
As the West Indians board the flight back home in a day’s time, they might experience a sense of vindication in having stuck it up to their powers that be, both the cricket board as well as the body representing them.
But they leave behind a seething BCCI, who are both ‘upset’ and ‘disappointed’ with the unforeseen cancellation of the tour and steadfast that they do not wish to play the men from the Caribbean in a bilateral series for another four-five years.
The repercussions of a forced sabbatical by the mighty Indian cricket board will be felt not just by the players and the board but by the entire gamut of West Indian cricket. On Friday, skipper Dwayne Bravo brought along his entire team for the toss as a show of unity and togetherness. But it remains to be seen whether a number of these players will even play together again under the West Indian flag.
For long now, there has existed an inherent fear across the Caribbean Isles about some of their biggest cricketing luminaries turning their back on international cricket and opting for the many various opulent T20 leagues around the world, the IPL in particular. A breaking down of relations between the two boards, could well turn that trepidation into reality.
It’s no secret that in recent years, the West Indies have been ardent beneficiaries of the BCCI’s largesse. Only last year, the MS Dhoni & Co played a tri-series in the Caribbean, with Sri Lanka as the third team, in a tournament that was sponsored almost entirely by Indian companies. The tournament itself had replaced a scheduled bilateral Test series between the West Indies and Pakistan as the WICB wasn’t in a financially sound position to host it.
A few months later, the WICB returned the favour by agreeing for a short tour to India almost at the eleventh hour in what would end up being Sachin Tendulkar’s swansong. But if the BCCI were to turn their back on their West Indian counterparts — as was hinted in their first press release— the results will be damaging.
Foreign players need to get NOCs from their respective boards to play in the IPL. And if the raging issue regarding the discrepancies in the revenue sharing between the WICB and its players continues, then it’s almost certain that the West Indian players— the likes of Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Sammy and many others who represent IPL franchises — will be denied that necessary authorisation.
That will leave Gayle & Co with no option but to go solo, and become the very ‘renegades’ that they have often been accused of having become. The departure of these high-profile stars from their ranks will not only deplete the already diminishing talent pool in the Caribbean, but if anything completely dry it out.
The issue that prompted the initial weariness of Bravo & Co to play the series and eventually culminated in the strike had to do with the new agreement signed between WICB and WIPA president Wavell Hinds. Among the many bones of contention that Bravo would later refer to in his strongly-worded letter to Hinds, the one that caused most disharmony was the recommendation that some amount of the WICB’s revenue trickle down to the regional group of domestic players rather than remain exclusively with the international players.
Disparity in numbers..
The WICB believed that the new agreement would result in a 15 per cent increase in the earnings of the contracted players. Bravo, however, insisted and kept reiterating that in contrast he and his teammates would suffer a staggering 90 per cent pay-cut-leaving them earning around Rs 28,000 per Test match, which is one-sixth of what a Ranji player earns from a single four-day game.
In addition, the new agreement also took away the 25 per cent participation fee that the WICB was earlier paying the players for playing in ICC tournaments. And following a fortnight of heated discussions between players, the WICB and the WIPA— not to forget an exchange of angry emails between Bravo and Hinds — the West Indians have decided that enough was enough and decided to pack their bags. But where it leaves West Indies cricket is at the precipice with the BCCI threatening to push them over the edge.
-
BCCI to review West Indies’ participation in IPL
(http://s18.postimg.org/73xdyuw6h/pollard_m.jpg)
Pollard_m Players including Pollard and Gayle will have their IPL careers in jeopardy if BCCI chose to take some action against them. (Source: PTI)
Press Trust of India | New Delhi | Posted: October 17, 2014 7:12 pm | Updated: October 17, 2014 7:14 pm
The BCCI is seriously contemplating reviewing the West Indies players’ participation in the cash-rich Indian Premier League as the ongoing series ended abruptly on Friday due to visiting team’s payment dispute with their own cricket board.
So miffed are the BCCI officials with the attitude of the Caribbean players that some harsh actions can’t be ruled out as far as their playing in IPL is concerned.
“The matter is likely be raised at IPL governing council meeting where the issue will come up for serious discussions.
Some of the members of board’s top brass want to ban the Windies players for at least one season,” a senior BCCI functionary told PTI on Friday.
“For the likes of Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, IPL has been a primary source of income and the perks that they have got in India for their star status. The love that Indian public bestowed on them is unimaginable and this is pure backstabbing by their players,” the official added.
What BCCI officials are finding it difficult to digest is that even after their assurances to Sanjay Patel, who went to Kochi to persuade them, things have come to such a pass.
How could they backtrack on their promise? This is a matter of principles. If they can give commercial considerations priority then why won’t they be penalised for their uncompromising attitude,” the senior official said.
While BCCI will have to take the franchises into consideration as two of the most high-profile franchises Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have high-profile West Indians.
Dwayne Bravo and Dwayne Smith are key players of CSK while Kieron Pollard is an influential player in MI ranks. Not to forget Sunil Narine and above everyone else Chris Gayle.
A question mark is certainly there on Caribbean players’ participation in IPL-8.
-
(http://s4.postimg.org/fj4p9cnbh/Latest_Media_rel.jpg)
For immediate release
Friday, October 17, 2014
WICB statement re West Indies tour of India
St John’s, Antigua –
The Board of Directors of the West Indies Cricket Board held an emergency meeting by teleconference today to discuss the developments with regard to the West Indies tour of India.
The Board of Directors was briefed of the latest developments and as a result of decisions taken the WICB advises:
1. The WICB clarifies that players in the West Indies Squad currently in India represented by Mr. Dwayne Bravo indicated to the WICB through the West Indies Team Management that the players have taken a decision to withdraw their services for the remainder of the tour of India. As a result of this action by the players the WICB was left with no option but to advise the BCCI that it will no longer be able to provide a West Indies team for the remaining five matches (5th ODI, T20 International, three Test matches).
2. The WICB wishes to further clarify that its proposed alternative arrangement of a replacement West Indies team was not considered acceptable. The WICB is understanding of this position.
3. The WICB unreservedly apologises to West Indian fans and all cricket fans for this most regrettable situation and the premature end to the tour.
4. The WICB unreservedly apologises to the BCCI, their sponsors, broadcasters and other stakeholders for the premature end to the tour.
5. The WICB thanks the BCCI, their sponsors, broadcasters, other stakeholders and fans for their patience and understanding during the first four ODIs. The WICB wishes the BCCI every success with the proposed alternative arrangements and looks forward to the continuation of the strong and longstanding relationship between the two boards.
6. The WICB clarifies further that as a result of postulations by the players, the tour was under a cloud of uncertainty from the inception. The WICB, acting prudently, advised the host board – BCCI – of the developments and remained in constant contact to provide updates as to the threat of possible player action.
7. The WICB will host an emergency Board Meeting on Tuesday October 21st, in Barbados, to conduct a thorough assessment of all the ramifications of the premature end to the tour and any action which may be necessary therefrom. The WICB will host a media conference following this meeting. Further details will be provided upon confirmation.
8. The WICB regrets that the delegation which was pre-scheduled to travel to India to meet with the players on a number of issues will no longer be able to conduct such meeting at which the intention was also to discuss the concerns of the players. The delegation had included WICB Chief Executive Officer Mr. Michael Muirhead, Chairman of the Cricket Committee Mr. Julian Charles and also WIPA President and CEO Mr. Wavell Hinds.
The delegation had been scheduled to arrive in India on Monday October 20. This meeting was scheduled prior to any issues being raised with the New MOU/CBA and it was intended to acquaint all the parties of how it would roll out.
This was necessary as the WICB did not have an opportunity to so do in the Caribbean due to the logistical challenges of assembling all the players prior to departure for the tour of India (some of the players were already in India participating in the Champions League). The WICB CEO, Mr. Muirhead and WIPA President/CEO Mr. Hinds had been in negotiations with regard to finding a mutually agreeable position to allow for the full tour to be completed.
9. The WICB further regrets that in his initial communication to the WIPA President and CEO Mr. Hinds, Mr. Bravo chose to use inflammatory language and issue a clear threat to cause injury to West Indies cricket.
Specifically Mr. Bravo wrote: “Please note that we are giving you the opportunity to right this wrong before things deteriorate [sic] to such an extent that West Indies cricket to the wider cricket world looks to fall to its knees again.”
10. The WICB reiterates that as a result of the action taken by the players the Board was forced with no other option but to discontinue the tour. The Board once again apologises unreservedly for the premature end to the tour.
Finally, the WICB advises that the West Indies A Team tour of Sri Lanka continues as scheduled.
-
Haaaa haaaa haaaa ha ha
Burn baby burn haha .
Suckers suck on that lol .
-
Qmire, what's this is about?
-
Should we be :o :( or >:( ?
-
Thakur wants BCCI to cut future ties with West Indies
Dharamsala: Joint Secretary of the BCCI and President of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Anurag Thakur expressed disappointment over West Indies' pull-out from the India tour and said BCCI should take strict measures to make sure such behaviour is never repeated. In a sudden turn of events, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) decided the team will leave India after the conclusion of the ongoing fourth ODI in Dharamsala, meaning that Friday's match will be the last of the tour.
Thakur revealed that the BCCI was informed about the pull-out earlier this morning and said that he had a sense the decision was taken the previous night itself. He even mentioned that players were rigid due to which they not even ready to even play the fourth ODI.
"I get a feeling that they made up their mind last night itself. Earlier today, we got a call that they're not interested in participating in the fourth ODI. The BCCI was informed by the West Indies Cricket Board at around seven in the morning from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). Many BCCI officials as well as the local staff travelling with the board tried to convince them but they were adamant on not playing," Thakur told reporters during the Dharamsala ODI.
"There was some dispute between the West Indies players and the board and despite every bit of convincing they were hell bent on not playing. Before the BCCI decided to prepare a formal announcement, I personally went up to the players in order to talk them into not pulling out and fortunately succeeded in my quest." he said.
Thakur said the BCCI should take legal actions and claim a compensation for the loss BCCI will have to incur. "First, the BCCI should file a complaint with the ICC about the behaviour of players and the West Indies board. Second, in order to have successful future tours, BCCI should not play with the Windies. Third, they should also file a claim for compensation with the WICB - the amount of revenue they are going to lose. And fourth, not only the BCCI, but also the local associations, that have spent truckloads of money to get everything in place only to have one of the teams pull out, should take necessary actions" Thakur added.
"I think such a move is required so that in future no cricket players or board should indulge in such kind of behaviour that goes against the game of cricket."
On being asked what got him to convince the West Indies players and officials to play the Dharamsala ODI, the BCCI member did not say anything clearly. "Let it be. All I can say is that everyone was so happy with the facilities and infrastructure of the ground that both players and staff sort of felt bad about not playing. But since they did not get any kind of support from their board regarding their ongoing tiff, I think they took a firm stand."
Thakur however, expressed his sympathies with the West Indies players but simultaneously, played down the idea of a pull-out or any such action. "I do sympathise with the West Indies cricketers but this is no way to deal with a matter or take a decision. They could have made up their mind before coming to India - they may have some valid reasons but at the same time this is not the way to behave. They could have at least finished the series before coming to such a hurried conclusion.
As the HPCA President, Thakur was satisfied that the match at Dharamsala took place but as a BCCI official, he said the BCCI should ensure that they take the required action. He was even in for cutting any future ties with the West Indies. "As far as the HPCA is concerned, we persuaded them and they played the game. So it is now up to the BCCI to deal with the matter in whatever way they want. As its joint secretary and a cricket lover, I think such an attitude is not good for the game of cricket." Thakur said.
"I think the BCCI should consider isolating the West Indies. If the board has suffered financial loss, if it has suffered in terms of cricket, interims of broadcasting and other areas, then why not. You need to set an example. The only good think in all this is that they (WICB) have not demanded a single penny from us."
The termination of the tour means that the winner of the fourth ODI wins the series and Thakur said it was a blessing in disguise from the HPCA's point of view. "Another positive from the HPCA's point of view is that in a way Dharamsala ODI has become the series decider. At one stage Dharamsala wasn't even in contention of hosting this fixture and today in a way it has become the most crucial match of the series." Thakur concluded.
-
BCCI seek legal advice on West Indies pullout
Amol Karhadkar
October 17, 2014
The BCCI has called an emergent working committee meeting in Hyderabad on October 21 to discuss the consequences of West Indies' decision to pull out of the India tour after the Dharamsala ODI. The working committee will decide on whether the BCCI will take legal action against the WICB.
"We have referred the matter to our legal cell and asked them to let us know by the 21st about how we can pursue the issue legally," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel told ESPNcricinfo. "They have entered into a bilateral agreement with us, and they have abandoned the tour due to their internal issues, so we will have to seek compensation. But depending on the legal advice, the working committee will decide the future course of action."
The working committee, in consultation with the tour, programme and fixtures committee, will also decide the itinerary of the series against Sri Lanka. It remains to be seen if all the five venues that were supposed to host the remaining games in the series against West Indies - Kolkata, Cuttack, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Ahmedabad - will be allotted a match each in the alternate series.
At the moment, only Kolkata is assured of a match. "It had been decided to award a match to CAB following their request to host an international match to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Eden Gardens, so Kolkata will stage a match," Patel said. He also confirmed that the annual Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi lecture, which was to be delivered by VVS Laxman in Kolkata on October 20, will be rescheduled and be held ahead of the Kolkata ODI.
-
Qmire, what's this is about?
He wants to be the founder of the militant wing of the WICB.... :rotfl: :rotfl:
-
allyuh feel is just so easy to call off a tour...u know how much money Indian advertisers bare to lose.
WICBC..have been doing shit for years with players contracts...have to get a system with players in place so that all parties are comfortable. Cameron seem to be playing smart man...
WI players...will suffer in the IPL now..u have RUINED opportunities for future players.
WIPA -Hinds seems to have been either outsmarted or made a deal with WICBC...
-
From worse to worser!!! This is friggin' unbelievable!!!!
-
WICBC should face a huge penalty....if they had negotiated proper contracts with there players this would not have happened. cricket has changed..big money involved...
-
SELFISH
...says former West Indies batsman of players’ action
By \\\\\ Roger Seepersad
Story Created: Oct 17, 2014 at 9:26 PM ECT
(http://)
EVASIVE ACTION: West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels ducks from a delivery by Indian bowler Mohammed Shami during the fourth One Day International at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala, India, yesterday. Samuels scored 112 as West Indies were beaten by 59 runs. —Photo: BCCI
Former West Indies cricketer Bryan Davis does not agree with the action taken by the West Indies players to withdraw from the ongoing tour of India describing the move by the players as “selfish” and “inconsiderate.”
The players, in their latest letter to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Dave Cameron, said they have taken a decision to return home from the tour after the fourth One Day International which Indian won by 59 runs in Dharamsala, yesterday.
“It is never justifiable to quite in the middle of a series,” Davis told the Express yesterday. “There is no reason to abort a series except for War or acts of God and things like that. I don’t believe that there were any proper explanations for abandoning the tour, certainly not for an argument with your own players’ association,” he added.
On the eve of the first ODI, the West Indies players had threatened to withdraw their services over the payment issues arising from the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the WICB and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA).
“Those are things you should deal with before you go on tour. Before you go on tour you sign a contract. You can’t wait until you go on tour to sign a contract and then disagree with the contract,” Davis explained.
The former West Indies Test batsman said he felt hurt and embarrassed by the situation and although he continued to follow the West Indies progress in the ODI yesterday, he did so with a heavy heart.
“While on tour, I am saying they cannot leave that tour because of some argument with their own representative body (WIPA),” Davis explained. “The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) does not have anything to do with your domestic problems, neither does the fans in India. That is totally unfair to them,” he added.
“You did not deal with your problems before you went on the tour so then deal with it after when you go back home. You certainly cannot abandoned the tour in the middle of because of your internal dispute.
“That is selfish, inconsiderate. It lacks integrity. I am sad and disappointed about the turn it took. It was a total shortage of courtesy. There are no redeeming factors,” he insisted.
“To me the players should not have left without signing a contract. The WICB should have ensured the players were in agreement with everything outlined so they are also at fault,” Davis concluded.
-
Failed to address our concerns, says Bravo
Story Created: Oct 17, 2014 at 9:22 PM ECT
Express
The West Indies tour of India was thrown into uncertainty again after the West Indies players advised the team management and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) of their decision to return home following the fourth One Day International in Dharamsala, India, yesterday.
The players are claiming that the WICB and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) failed to seriously address their concerns over the new payment structure.
The players had threatened to withdraw their services on the eve of the first ODI but decided to play the match as an act of good faith. It seems now that their patience has run out.
Below is the WI players’ full letter to WICB president Dave Cameron.
Dear Mr Cameron,
I refer to your letter dated 10th October, which we received earlier today (Oct 16th) via the media. Let me thank you for the courtesy of your response to our letter sent to you on October 10th 2014.
As you would recall in our October 10th letter to you we stated: "For the record, we wish to reiterate our position put forward to the WICB earlier through WIPA, which is, that we propose the continuation under the old structure until a new agreement is reached between the players and WICB. Neither the WICB nor the players would be disadvantaged by such a mutually agreed arrangement. We believe this to be a sensible and reasonable option in the interim, while we negotiate new terms and conditions that have been properly ventilated."
We must express that we are all disheartened and extremely disappointed that our proposal to the WICB has been rejected outright. The players also stated: "as an act of good faith and in the spirit of camaraderie that epitomizes regional cricket, we conceded to go forward with the 1st One-Day Match in India with the expectation that we would resolve the critical matter of all our contractual terms."
As a further sign of good faith we proceeded to make ourselves available for the 2nd and 3rd ODI. As indicated to all, our decision to play in India was in no way intended to convey an acceptance by the players of the unreasonable terms and conditions put forward to us by WICB nor was it intended as an expression of our acceptance of the purported new Memorandum of Understanding.
We now wish to address some more matters of concern raised in your letter to the players. We note your offer to mediate since in your view this is a matter between WIPA and its members. We wish to state that while you may have been well intended, the offer to mediate on a document that the WICB is a party to cannot be entertained.
Mr. President, what would the WICB say after reviewing the document and the facts surrounding the signing of the document? Would the WICB say that the document is favourable to the WICB and that WIPA should not have signed without a resolution by its members, without consulting with its members and board among all the other things that is reasonably required? We think not!!!
Mr. President, you made several references to the new purported MOU signed by WICB and WIPA. You stated that, "the document is explicit in that the WIPA is the sole and exclusive collective bargaining agent representative recognized by the WICB i.e. all persons contracted by the WICB to play for the West Indies team." You further stated, "for the record, we would like to point out to you our view that the new MOU/CBA creates a clear, sustainable, long term compensation structure... "The agreement also creates the framework for WICB and WIPA to comprehensively address the use of players’ image rights- so that both the WICB and the players may benefit in relation to such usage."
Sir for your information, we have not signed the match/tour contract presented to us by the WICB on the advice of WIPA. Furthermore, we are yet to receive a copy of the new purported MOU. As you know, the issue of player image rights’ has been a bone of contention for over a decade between the WICB and WIPA. It has also been subject to many arbitration rulings and challenged repeatedly by the WICB, such that I am aware that there was a proposed arbitration on this very issue pending. So WIPA members would have needed to sign off on this area which was in contention yet it appears that it has been addressed in the purported MOU and, very significantly, to the WICB’s satisfaction.
Mr. President, as you recognized in your response, the players acted in good faith and played the first three ODI’s with the high expectation that the matter would be resolved or a clear pathway for an acceptable resolution identified. This must be viewed in the context that we have played without any knowledge of the purported new MOU and having been advised by WIPA not to sign the match/tour contract. In other words, we are playing without having agreed the terms and conditions. This therefore means that we have no real coverage in place for medical, insurance, security and many other terms and conditions that come with being an international cricketer.
We were truly hoping that the WICB together with WIPA and/or the players would do everything in their power to seriously address the concerns of the players. Regrettably, this has not happened.
Mr. President, for the record, the players are not against the need for restructuring and reform. The players’ issue is that there has been no resolution, no mandate, no consultation, no prior Board approval as far as WIPA is concerned and yet there is an agreement of unreasonable terms and conditions. In addition to the issue of deficient representation there is a case that the purported MOU may be wholly unjust and unfair and the new salary structure is untenable. In these circumstances the players feel there is sufficient basis to ask for its termination and its renegotiation.
It appears to us that the WICB is asking the players to make all the sacrifice. Have you asked your administrative employees such as your CEO, Senior Executives, the numerous Administrative Assistants, Marketing personnel, Team Managers, Team Personnel and Incoming Coach to take a two-third cut on their salaries and allowances?
It is therefore not a true representation to say this is solely an issue between players and their representative. The WICB had a duty to be sure that all partners and stakeholders were aware and understood the consequences of such a fundamental change as is being proposed.
Mr. President, having taken the field in good faith, appealed to WIPA to address our concerns to no avail and asked the WICB to demonstrate with action, what is often bandied about in words, namely that they are interested in player welfare and partnership, it seems to us that there has been no reciprocal action.
As a consequence and as a matter of principle, we cannot be party to this grave injustice. The players regretfully wish to advise that they can no longer accept this situation which have affected each and every player in a very negative way. The players are under tremendous stress and undue pressure. We have informed the Manager and Coach of our decision to return home with the hope that these issues will be addressed to the satisfaction of all.
Regards,
Dwayne Bravo on behalf of the WI team
-
BCCI joint-secretary says India should not play Windies again
Vinode Mamchan
Published: Guardian
Friday, October 17, 2014
Anurag Thakur
Joint secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Anurag Thakur says that India should not play the West Indies again in the future tours programme. An irate Thakur speaking during the Dharamshala game said: “The BCCI has to called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to penalise the West Indies, the BCCI has to ask for compensation for their losses for this tour and the BCCI should not play the West Indies again on the future tours programme.”
Thakur’s comments came in light of the West Indies team pulling out of the ongoing series in India due to their payment structure impasse with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). Thakur who is also president of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) said the BCCI has to now lobby the ICC so that things of this nature does not happen again. “These players should not have pulled out of this tour.
I went to them when they wanted to pull out of the Dharamshala match and I told them that people were already lined up to go to the cricket and people had come from very far to look at the game. We should not have to deal with things like this to have cricket played. “The BCCI must go at the ICC to deal with this issue because this is very distressing at this point in time. Imagine the last ODI was to be played in a place like Kolkata, where we have a big cricket crazy population.
These cricket lovers would now have to do without a game and in the future I think that we have to be careful that we don’t disappoint people like this again.”
-
India pick up the bones as WI head towards uncertainty
18 Oct 2014, 0847 hrs IST, Aditya Bhattacharya, gocricket.com
(http://s29.postimg.org/g0roy57bb/44865401.jpg)
India pick up the bones as WI head towards uncertainty© TOI Contributor
India won the controversy hit series against the West Indies 2-1.
Virat Kohli on Friday backed his strong comments during Thursday's press conference and made the most of a troubled West Indies side to come out on top and stroke a refined match-winning century, an effort that not only reassured that India's batting sensation was back scoring runs, but also helped India clinch a controversy-marred series by a 2-1 margin.
Gloomy faces and a sorry body language, the signs were enough to indicate the West Indies were in turmoil. So much, that even a defiant-looking Dwayne Bravo, during the toss, couldn't do much to lift the spirits of the side. Even meeting his holiness the Dalai Lama minutes before the start of the play didn't help much, because West Indies' bowlers wayward and the batsmen did well only in patches.
And that is exactly where a resolute Kohli made it count. He first got together with Ajinkya Rahane (adding 72 for the second wicket) and later with the consistent Suresh Raina (with whom he stitched 138 runs for the fourth) and ensured that India did not lose the early momentum provided by Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan.
Marlon Samuels' second century in three matches was the only positive for the troubled Caribbean side. It was unfortunate that his surge had to come to this unexpected halt. But rest assured, he will be expected to be West Indies' best bet with the bat for the next ODI series, whenever it may be. The gush of consistency shown by the Jamaican against India - his third century against them - has been a source of light in an otherwise lifeless camp.
It was only due to Samuels' effort and Andre Russell's cameo that a match which looked headed for a one-sided finish came to life. However, the lack of support from other batsmen didn't help Samuels' cause. The leisurely beginning in the first ten overs and then Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo consuming almost eight overs for 30-odd runs looked odd considering the Champions League T20 recently got over.
The pressure of the off-field happenings were clearly visible. The West Indies produced far too many short balls, which the Indian batsmen latched onto. Perhaps they were deceived by the much-hyped nature of the pitch, which had predicted a lot more bounce than it actually did. However, the same track allowed both Indian openers, Kohli and Raina to toy with the bowling. So where do West Indies go from here? Surely, the pull out will not settle well with not just the BCCI, but also with other boards who are likely to be in two-minds about hosting them.
One gets a feeling that had the pullout not taken place, there was more than just a possibility of perhaps seeing a different West Indian side take field on Friday - one that dominated the series opener in Kochi and the other that was on top for almost 75 percent of the match before falling like a pack of nine pins in Delhi. But instead, Bravo and his men were jaded - dropping as many as six catches, giving overthrows and looking slothful and knackered on the field. It seemed as if they were there just for the sake of finishing off 100 overs.
Such circumstances helped Kohli chip in at the right moment. He was dropped but at times, that's the kind of thing you need to hit back into form. He was cautious in the beginning and merciless towards the end, pacing his innings well and in the process becoming the youngest player to 20 ODI centuries. That being said, the Indian bowling, especially swapping Amit Mishra with Akshar Patel was an indication that India were still looking for a more-relied option beyond Ravichandran Ashwin.
Patel tightened things from one end, conceding just 26 off his 10 overs. Not known for flighting the ball much, the Gujarat bowler, during the post-match press conference, said he bowled according to the pitch and conditions in Dharamsala. "Actually that's my style of bowling. My trajectory of the ball is such that I don't flight it much. I try and bowl according to the wicket and on this pitch, the ball was skidding." said Patel, who made his debut for India in the three-match ODI series in Bangladesh.
With India now scheduled to play Sri Lanka in a five-match ODI series next month, a fresh start awaits the reigning world champions and in all likeliness, it promises to be more competitive. As for the West Indies, the future seems uncertain.
-
Dark day for Windies cricket
18 Oct 2014, 1009 hrs IST, Avijit Ghosh, TNN
(http://s29.postimg.org/48cpw9lc7/44865725.jpg)
Dark day for Windies cricket© TNN
Caribbean cricket has long suffered from a player-WICB disjunct, but this is a new low.
New Delhi: A bunch of Caribbean islands, each with their own governments, coming together for cricket is one of the greatest examples of a sports co-operative. The hordes of problems in recent decades aside, the many differences were generally papered over and the facade of a unified front maintained in West Indies cricket.
But on Friday when the Calypso boys struck the rather unmusical note of abandoning their India tour midway following a pay dispute with their cricket board, Caribbean cricket lay in tatters. The West Indies cricket collective isn't dead yet; but its spirit lies buried. Friday will always be a dark day in its history.
The fall of West Indies cricket and the rise of pay disputes have almost happened in synchronicity. During its glory days in the 1980s, West Indies primarily played for pride as best illustrated in the documentary, Fire in Babylon. But with the increasing commercialisation of the game, that viewpoint changed. But while countries like India developed the means and methods to create a money-making machine out of the sport which in turn helped the BCCI feed the hunger for money-share among cricketers, WICB faltered in a similar endeavour.
That's primarily because the popularity of cricket in the region declined over the years; football and basketball taking away not only the spectators but also promising talents. It became a vicious cycle. With no crowds, there was little sponsorship money. Gate receipts too dwindled. With frequency and percentage of on-field losses growing alarmingly , the crowds preferred to be elsewhere. Tests, once the go-to-place for the wild and the expressive, were now played to empty stands. Even ODIs didn't hold much charm. T20 was the only cash cow now.
That too received a jolt when Allen Stanford, one of its top promoters in those parts, was arrested for fraud. He was sentenced to 110 years in jail in 2012! The disjunct between the board and the players had started much earlier though. An article published in The Guardian back in 2005, recalled: "In 1998, just before the start of a South African Test tour, in the context of an extended pay dispute, the WICB sacked the then captain Brian Lara and vice-captain Carl Hooper, beginning two tense, draining days of brinkmanship eventually won by the players. Lara and Hooper were reinstated but the team went on to lose the series 5-0."
Contract payment and sponsorship related issues led to major stand-offs in 2004 and 2005 as well.
The sparring between the WICB and West Indies Players Association (WIPA) has often included the sponsors too. And sometimes, unkind cuts too have been made. The Guardian story also talks about a leaked memo by a sponsor which "contained comments (called "I have never seen anything like this in the past. I can see serious repercussions from this. I think this is a ridiculous decision by the West Indies Cricket Board. They like to hide behind half-truths. It's embarrassing for me, as someone who played for West Indies, to see this happening."
In recent years, face-offs between WICB and WIPA became worryingly frequent. Ever since T20 leagues have sprouted over the world, the confrontations have become more intransigent. With the more talented players getting an opportunity to ply their trade globally , they have become less dependent on the Board. The much-written about dispute between T20 superstar Chris Gayle and WICB dragged on for 15 months from April 2011 to June 2012.
But the abandoning of a tour midway marks a new low. For fans of Calypso cricket world over, it is a distressing turn of events. There was a romance to West Indies cricket.Where's all the song and dance gone?
-
WICB solely responsible for current crisis: Michael Holding
Posted: October 18, 2014 5:59 pm
Legendary fast bowler Michael Holding has chosen to empathise with the West Indies players for deciding to return home abruptly over a pay dispute while slamming the Caribbean cricket board for the sport’s constant downfall in the region.
Holding said lack of proper administration is the sole cause for the current crisis and the reason behind the West Indies cricket’s struggle for many years now.
“All will be fine in West Indies cricket when we get proper administration. We have the talent, we just need proper administration, something we don’t have at the moment,” Holding told PTI when asked whether the players would be able to recover from the latest setback and help the team regain its lost glory.
Later in his column, Holding feared “fierce repercussions” for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for deciding to call off the India tour over pay issues with its players and upsetting the powerful BCCI.
The 60-year-old, who still looks as fit as a fiddle, said Marlon Samuels’ second hundred in the series showed the West Indies are high on talent and have enough players who are capable of turning a match around.
“He played great. It just shows that the team has many players who can do the job at the highest level and he is one of them. We just need proper administration,” said Holding referring to the batting all-rounder’s 112 last night, even though West Indies slumped to a 59-run defeat against India in fourth ODI to lose the series 1-2.
The players had threatened to go back home even before the first one-dayer on October 8. They finally called off the series after the fourth ODI at Dharamsala yesterday.
Considering the challenging circumstances, they gained a lot of respect after winning the first ODI but thereafter failed to keep up the momentum.
Did Holding expect the West Indies players to keep the turbulent issue aside and put up a good show? “To be honest, I don’t know what to expect from any team in this format of the game. Anything is possible on a particular day. The fact they played well in the first ODI shows they can do it more frequently.”
In the pre-match presser, Virat Kohli had mentioned that the West Indies have become more competitive off late and one of the reasons is their players’ presence in the IPL.
Holding, however, strongly disagreed with Kohli.
“What do I say about this? Before the IPL started the West Indies came here and won. They had it in them to win. It has nothing to do with the IPL. IPL can’t improve anyone’s cricket,” said the cricketing great.
The cricketer-turned commentator was on his maiden visit to the scenic Dharamsala and arrived two days before the game to explore the hill station.
Asked about his opinion on cricket being hosted here, Holding replied: “I think it is good if you can spread the game, spread the gospel as they say and take the game as far as possible. As long as the facilities are good and the players are not inconvenienced, I think it is good.
“I have been here since Wednesday, stay has been good. The internet at the hotel was not working for the first two days, apart from that it has been fine. The weather has been great, we went to see the temple, had a good long drive up there (to McleodGanj), had a good time. That was interesting.”
-
Qmire, what's this is about?
He wants to be the founder of the militant wing of the WICB.... :rotfl: :rotfl:
What you laughing at ,you won't here for the dark days of trini football ,and last I checked we are on an upward spiral with Jack Warner now a memory .
where as your cricket with all the so called experts is dead lol .
-
Qmire, what's this is about?
Deeks that was not thrown at any body from site ,but as a shot for the region as a whole .
And me just laughing at them .
-
Qmire, I am not partisan football against cricket. I is ah ball jumbie. St.Joseph savannah, QPS, and QRC are "my home". Cricket, football, netball, basketball, rugby, field-hockey, I was always dey. It real friggin sad to see the regional cricket team/board following in Jack/TTFF footsteps. We in TT had 30 years of that nonsense. We don't even want that in our cricket, especially now we no longer "rule the world". The BCCI could really put a final nail in we(WI) coffin. They don't need us anymore. They ruling and running cricket with their millions(money and population). You mean to say they went play the first couple games and now it come to this. They should not have gone in the first place.
-
:beermug: banana organization
-
If the BCCI really wanted to make a statement they would extend the sanction to West Indian players getting IPL contracts. On the one hand I understand that the players had a grievance and there wasn't time to really sort it out before the tour started, but it is unconscionable that they felt it urgent enough to pull out of the tour. That is unacceptable. We can point fingers at the WICB for bad management and not be wrong in that assessment, but the players must take the majority of the responsibility for this. How come the players from the other countries don't resolve their issues like this?
-
I agree with Mr. Davis. What was so urgent about this dispute that it couldn't have been handled after the tour?
-
Why would they sign and send a 70 paycut contract the morning of the first game ,especially when the team was on a high confidence winning streak lol .Seems like sabotage to me ,maybe WI are not allowed to win anymore.
-
India may scrap tour 2016 of West Indies over Caribbean team’s pull-out
• BCCI is also considering legal action and ICC intervention
• ‘It will be very difficult to play bilateral series in future’
The Observer, Saturday 18 October 2014 10.50 BST
West Indies one-day captain, Dwayne Bravo, said the players had not accepted the payment agreement
(http://s10.postimg.org/3ua1y1oh5/West_Indies_one_day_capta_011.jpg)
The West Indies one-day captain, Dwayne Bravo, said the players had not accepted the payment agreement. Photograph: Matthew Lewis/IDI via Getty Images
India may scrap their tour of West Indies in 2016 after the Caribbean team’s abrupt pull-out on Friday, said an angry Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is also considering legal action and seeking intervention of the game’s world governing body, the International Cricket Council.
The tourists abandoned the series with another one-dayer, a Twenty20 international and three Test matches left to play over a protracted payment dispute between the players and their board.
The West Indies Cricket Board said it had been left with no choice but to abandon the tour of India, an action that angered the world’s richest cricket body, who swiftly roped in Sri Lanka as replacements to play a five-match ODI series next month.
“It will be very difficult to play West Indies in bilateral series in future. They have to demonstrate the willingness that such situations never happen again,” the BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said. “I would say that India’s next tour of West Indies is highly unlikely to go ahead in the current situation.”
The Indian cricket team is scheduled to tour the Caribbean for three Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20 match early in 2016.
“Whatever the dispute, they should have honoured the bilateral agreement,” Patel said. “We thank our friends Sri Lanka, who agreed to the tour on short notice, but unfortunately we couldn’t fit in the Tests as there was not enough time.”
The BCCI was considering legal action against the WICB and has called an emergency working committee meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue. “We have suffered huge losses and the ICC is our parent body and we are going to ask them to ensure that this never happens in the future,” Patel added.
The ICC is headed by the Indian industrialist N Srinivasan, often described as the most powerful man in the sport.
Confusion reigned on Friday as the WICB issued a statement denying it had withdrawn the team after the BCCI announced that the visitors would fly home after Friday’s one-dayer in Dharamsala.
The West Indies board later apologised to its Indian counterpart as well as sponsors, broadcasters and fans in a statement. It said it had offered to provide a replacement team but India had declined that offer.
The WICB said it had spoken to team management and been informed that “the players have taken a decision to withdraw their services for the remainder of the tour of India.”
The WICB and West Indies Players’ Association signed a new agreement last month covering pay and conditions but it was rejected by the senior players, including the one-day captain, Dwayne Bravo, who said they were kept in the dark.
The players subsequently issued a strike threat but eventually took to the field and were playing the match when the BCCI announced an abrupt end to the tour.
The WICB is to hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to “conduct a thorough assessment of all the ramifications of the premature end to the tour” and decide what action if any should be taken.
-
West Indies' threat to quit India tour could backfire
West Indies could be in debt to the tune of at least $10 million after deciding to quit their tour of India
(http://s29.postimg.org/6xqtdyu9z/samuels20120508_W.jpg)
Final stand: Marlon Samuels made a century for West Indies in what could be their last match of their tour to India Photo: AFP
Derek Pringle By Derek Pringle8:09PM BST 17 Oct 2014
The decision by West Indies cricketers to abort their tour of India due to a pay dispute could cost the hosts at least $10 million (£6.2 million) per match for the remaining fixtures – a loss no country would want to cause the Board of Control for Cricket in India, let alone one as reliant upon their largesse as the West Indies.
With one 50-over international, one T20 and three Tests still scheduled, that adds up at least £31 million in broadcasting rights, sponsorships and sold tickets. It is a sum the West Indies Cricket Board simply cannot afford, should the BCCI sue, and an expensive outcome for what looks like an exercise in bloody-minded penny-pinching on its part.
The West Indies Board confirmed the cancellation last night following manager Richie Richardson’s earlier email to the BCCI that the fourth one-day match at Dharamasala, a match the visitors lost by 59 runs despite Marlon Samuels’ 112, would be their last
India moved quickly to prevent a black hole in both their finances and fixture list and they have invited Sri Lanka to play five one-day internationals after making similar overtures to England.
The decision by West Indies is naive at all levels. The players, whose match fees were recently renegotiated by their players’ association, WIPA, should have aired their grievances earlier, allowing the matter to be sorted out sooner. Although one can have sympathy with them over the hardline attitude of the WICB, which said it would negotiate with WIPA but not the players, there is a lot more at stake than has been lost.
WIPA used to be militant, but this time, under new CEO Wavell Hinds, it appears to have agreed a cut in fees paid to players by the WICB. Instead of everyone getting $2,500 (£1,500) per match, only those playing get that amount. Those on the subs’ bench now get $900 (£560), an overall reduction when taken across the squad.
What appears to have irked the BCCI most, and remember many of the West Indies team earn a good living in the Indian Premier League, was the expectation that it would pay the differential to keep the West Indies on tour.
West Indies players have previous when it comes to pay disputes with their board, with incidences in 1998 and 2009. In order to avoid similar disruption, series under the Future Tours Programme are meant to be sacrosanct. Which is why when India have finished suing the WICB, and perhaps blocking its players in IPL, the International Cricket Council will flex its punitive muscles as well.
After that, everybody in West Indies cricket is likely to be a lot worse off.
-
Walsh urges diplomatic approach to WIPA-Windies impasse
BY SANJAY MYERS Observer staff reporter myerss@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, October 18, 2014
(http://s27.postimg.org/kyaqcjk4z/Courtney_Walsh.jpg)
Former regional team captain Courtney Walsh
FORMER regional team captain Courtney Walsh said a more diplomatic approach should be taken in the handling of the "sad" impasse between players, the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said the West Indies were set to pull out of the tour of the Asian country immediately following yesterday's fourth One-Day International (ODI) because of a dispute regarding a new payment structure.
One-Day captain Dwayne Bravo, acting as a representative for the elite players, has said the group is not happy with the earnings under the new arrangement between WIPA and the WICB.
Walsh expressed disappointment, that in his estimation, the relevant channels were not exhausted before that decision was made.
"I'm disappointed that it has gone the way it has gone. I would much prefer if there were some negotiations tried at first," Walsh told the Jamaica Observer.
The iconic former fast bowler, who was speaking at the Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence at the Pegasus Hotel on Thursday night, said then that he had heard of the possibility of the strike.
"I heard that there may be a strike and that the team may be returning home. I don't have the facts, but to me that would be another sad day for West Indies cricket.
"I don't think you should have out dirty linen in public. It could have been handled a lot better. If efforts were made first and nothing happened, then you sort of take other measures, but if the first thing you want to do is strike, well, I don't think it's right," Walsh said.
On the eve of the first ODI earlier this month, Bravo had warned that a strike or a pullout from the tour could not be ruled out.
But yesterday morning, the BCCI confirmed in a release that it had been informed of the West Indies' decision to "cancel the rest of its ongoing tour to India because of a dispute with its players."
The WICB, led by president Whycliffe 'Dave' Cameron, issued a release of its own, saying "it has taken no decision to discontinue the ongoing tour to India".
The tour schedule comprises a fifth ODI, a Twenty20 International and three Test matches. It is understood that India will now play five ODIs against Asian rivals Sri Lanka from November 1-15.
The stand-off has hinged on the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding recently agreed to by the players' union.
Bravo said that players have been kept in the dark about the details. He argued that the new arrangement results in a steep reduction in their earnings. In a letter, Bravo asked for the resignation of WIPA President Wavell Hinds.
WIPA, in response, claimed that senior players were kept abreast of happenings. The players' union explained that the current structure allows a wider group of regional players to acquire an improved living from cricket. Hinds added he has no plans of stepping down.
Walsh, recently appointed member of the WICB selection panel, said that while legendary captains of yesteryear oversaw challenges with the regional board, the time has passed when issues are handled by withdrawing services.
"We've all had issues with the board, from Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd and I was part of the team that had to strike...or didn't leave England for various reasons. But we have gone past that stage and you want to give everything a try first. All of us want the players to be happy...but there is a right way and a wrong way of going about it," Walsh insisted.
Wilford 'Billy' Heaven, the president of the Jamaica Cricket Association and a WICB board director, agreed that negotiating between the affected parties is the way to go.
"Cricket belongs to the Caribbean people and we need to understand that and come together for the greater good of the game. All interested parties and concerned parties should come together in a frank, purposeful and meaningful way and we should be able to find a middle-of-the-road position," Heaven said.
-
BCCI may consider freezing bilateral ties with West Indies
PTI
Mumbai, October 18, 2014
First Published: 19:05 IST(18/10/2014)
A livid BCCI may contemplate a freeze on bilateral series with the West Indies for five years and claim hefty damages for the Caribbean team's unprecedented move to pull out of the remainder of the India tour in the wake of an acrimonious unresolved pay dispute with its board.
The exact course of action and the amount of compensation will come up for discussion at BCCI's all powerful Working Committee Meeting which has been convened on October 21 in Hyderabad.
The aggrieved Caribbean players, who were persuaded to take the field for the fourth ODI in Dharamsala on Friday, conveyed their decision to call off the remaining part of tour to the BCCI, which is now contemplating legal action against the visitors.
Some top board members are of the view that a stern message should be sent to West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for abandoning the tour and creating a huge problem for the BCCI.
These BCCI officials not only want a ban on future series against the West Indies but also a bar on the participation of the Caribbean players in the IPL.
However, that is not a view shared by a majority of the members who feel that the players are not fault and should not be punished.
"We have suffered huge losses due to the decision of the West Indies to pull out of the tour. We are going to claim all the damages and pursue the matter with ICC. We have convened an emergent working committee meeting to discuss the issue as well as the visit, at short notice, by Sri Lanka," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel told PTI.
"The working committee members will have dialogue on this and after that we may consider to not pursue further Future Tour Programmes (FTP) with the West Indies."
Patel said he was busy from morning till midnight on Friday in view of the sudden "unprecedented" move by the West Indies to abandon the tour after playing, with reluctance, the fourth and penultimate ODI in Dharamsala.
"I had a very hectic time and this was an unprecedented decision. We will discuss all these at the working committee. There will be a governing council meeting of IPL preceding the WC meeting," he added.
Patel had said in a statement on Friday: "The BCCI would like to clarify that despite all its efforts, the Micromax Cup India vs West Indies ODI series has been curtailed because of the ongoing issue between WICB and its players, and the withdrawal of the WI team from the ongoing tour of India."
The BCCI secretary had also provided a timeline of the controversy-hit tour from the time the West Indies reached Kochi to play the first ODI till Friday when the BCCI received a communication from team manger Richie Richardson informing the former that the visitors will not play any more scheduled matches on the tour after Friday's ODI.
Patel also said that Sri Lanka will play the ODIs between November 1 and 14 and that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was also willing to send its team.
"We had already contacted the Sri Lanka board who had accepted the invitation on short notice. But they have to go back home for their next series against England," said Patel.
BCCI joint secretary Anurag Thakur is among the more vocal functionaries of the board in the wake of the pull out. He wants the board to cut all ties with the Caribbean team.
"BCCI tried their level best to convince them but they were adamant not to play due to their internal pay dispute with the board," Thakur had said.
Thakur sympathised with the West Indies players but said pulling out of the tour was not the right way to show protest over a pay dispute.
"They should have behaved more responsibly. The behaviour of players and West Indies board is not right. For the future tour programmes, BCCI should not play with the West Indies.
"They need to pay for the losses BCCI has incurred from this tour. That way no board or player in the near future should do this kind of practice which goes against the game of cricket," said Thakur, who is also the Himachal cricket boss.
The hurriedly cobbled up series with the Sri Lankan team has however jeopardised their skills training schedule. This was reflected in a tweet by senior cricketer Kumar Sangakkara on Saturday morning.
"Our 6 weeks of pure fitness work ends abruptly. Have a week to do a month's requirement of skills work before India. Planning ahead anyone?" the former skipper asked in a tweet.
Sri Lankans are currently under an intense fitness programme conducted by the former national rugby union skipper Chandrishan Perera.
The programme was tasked at conditioning players for the busy schedule ahead leading up to next year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The West Indies players were adamant to withdraw their service since they were unhappy with the new contracts, offered to them after landing in India.
As per the new contracts, agreed between the WICB and the Players Association (WIPA), the cricketers reportedly suffered a 75% cut in their salaries.
-
$M damage
WICB could be facing huge payout after tour pullout
Story Created: Oct 18, 2014 at 9:21 PM ECT
The cost of the West Indies pullout of their tour of India could run into the tens of millions as the Board of Control for Cricket contemplates taking legal action against the West Indies Cricket Board.
According to a ESPNcricinfo article, the BCCI is likely to claim damages of that could possibly reach US$65 million however the BCCI’s working committee will decide whether to go ahead with the claim at a meeting on October 21 in Hyderabad.
The loss of revenue for the BCCI comes after the West Indies players decided to fly home after the fourth ODI after objecting to a new payment structure which was signed off by the players’ representatives the West Indies Players Association.
The withdrawal of the West Indies players effectively canceled the remaining ODI, one Twenty20 and three Tests. This meant that the BCCI lost out on revenue for 17 match-days and although Sri Lanka agreed to fill in for West Indies and play five ODIs in India in November, the BCCI will still lose income for 12 match-days for the 2014-15 season and it is likely to claim those damages from the WICB.
BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel told ESPNcricinfo: “We have referred the matter to our legal cell and asked them to let us know by 21st about how we can pursue the issue legally.”
Though Patel said that the figures were still being computed, he noted, “they [WICB] entered into a bilateral agreement with us, and they abandoned the tour due to their internal issues, so we will have to seek compensation. But, depending on the legal advice, the working committee will decide the future course of action.”
In a BBCI press release on Friday, the BCC said it “will pursue all options available to protect its rights, whilst seeking appropriate action from the ICC to ensure that its interests and those of the game at large will not suffer any damage due to such acts of indiscretion.”
“The withdrawal gives little thought to the future of the game, the players and the long standing relations between the BCCI and the WICB,” the BCCI release added.
The BCCI’s revenue is primarily generated through broadcast sponsorship, series-title sponsorship, team-title sponsorship, apparel sponsorship, minor share of advertising from host broadcaster, gate receipts and in-stadia advertising.
Since the broadcast and series-title sponsorships deals are on a per match basis, irrespective of whether it’s a T20, Test or ODI, that income is unlikely to be affected since the five cancelled matches against West Indies (three Tests, an ODI and a Twenty20) will be replaced by five ODIs against Sri Lanka.
However, since the broadcaster’s revenue through advertising is going to be affected with the loss of 12 match-days, including a full Test series, that will have an impact on the BCCI’s coffers as the board gets a minor share of advertising revenue from the host broadcaster.
-
Lloyd, Walsh: Pullout a mistake
Story Created: Oct 18, 2014 at 9:18 PM ECT
Express
Former captain and West Indies Cricket Board selection committee chairman Clive Lloyd has apologised for the Caribbean team’s unprecedented move to pull out of remainder of India tour in the wake of an acrimonious pay dispute with WICB, saying that it was a mistake on the part of the players to have done so.
Another West Indies selector Courtney Walsh said was also not in support of players’ strikes as a first option and would have preferred negotiations to be fully explored first in order to find a solution to the ongoing bitter impasse.
“I heard that there may be a strike and that the team may be returning home. I don’t have the facts, but to me that would be another sad day for West Indies cricket,” Walsh lamented.
“I don’t think you should have out dirty linen in public. It could have been handled a lot better. If efforts were made first and nothing happened, then you sort of take other measures, but if the first thing you want to do is strike, well, I don’t think it’s right.”
Walsh, who was part of the West Indies team 16 years ago which refused to travel on to South Africa from London in a dispute with the WICB over tour fees, said the regional game was now “past that stage”.
“We’ve all had issues with the board, from Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd and I was part of the team that had to strike — or didn’t leave England for various reasons,” Walsh pointed out.
“But we have gone past that stage and you want to give everything a try first. All of us want the players to be happy but there is a right way and a wrong way of going about it.”
Meanwhile Lloyd said “I would like to apologise for the West Indies team aborting the India tour. It is a mistake on the part of players to have the left the tour in between.”
“We have great affection and love for Indian people and I hope that this will not affect our future relations. I hope the damage is not irreparable,” said Lloyd, who was with the West Indies team in India for the tour.
-
Andy Roberts: Can’t hold WICB to ransom
Story Created: Oct 18, 2014 at 9:18 PM ECT
Express
Former West Indies fast bowling great Sir Andy Roberts is against the move by the West Indies players to abandon the tour of India saying, “the players cannot hold the Board to ransom.”
“I am not at all happy. It is a sad day for West Indies cricket,” he told the Mid-Day website of the current situation.
The saga started when the West Indies players threatened to withdraw their services on the eve of the first One-Day International against India due to a dispute with their representative body—West Indies Players Association--and the West Indies Cricket Board over a new payment structure.
The situation escalated during the fourth ODI on Friday when the players announced that they will not take part in the remainder of the tour.
According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) press release, it was “a unilateral decision taken by the WICB and its players.”
West Indies were scheduled to play one more ODI in Kolkata, a Twenty20 match and three Tests.
The BCC subsequently announced that Sri Lanka confirmed to play a five-match ODI series with India from November 1 to 15.
“Our cricket is struggling to survive. The players should look back from where they have come and where they have reached today,” said Roberts.
Roberts also slammed the WICB for not resolving the players’ pay issue.
“I am not a fan of the West Indies Board. They have done a lot of foolish things in the past as well. The WICB should look at the benefits of the players and not just the 15 players of the team,” he added.
-
BCCI not going after WI players
Story Created: Oct 18, 2014 at 9:17 PM ECT
Express
The West Indies team may have abruptly decided to end their India tour on Friday due to a pay dispute but their decision is not going to jeopardise the Caribbean cricketers’ participation in the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 next season.
This is according to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Sanjay Patel who made it clear that the West Indies players’ participation in the T20 extravaganza is safe.
Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine have become household names in India due their performances in the IPL while Ravi Rampaul, Lendl Simmons, Andre Russell, Daren Sammy, Dwayne Smith, Samuel Badree and Jason Holder have also featured in the T20 tournament.
“There is no question of stopping them (West Indies players) from playing in the IPL. Our problem is with the West Indies Board and not their players. Whatever is happening is between their players and Board. The BCCI is not at all concerned with it. We have a contract with the WICB. Also, a lot of these West Indies players are bought by the franchises,” Patel was quoted as saying in a Mid-Day article on Friday.
The article also said that Patel had informed that the BCCI called an urgent Working Committee meeting in Hyderabad on October 21 to discuss the matter.
“Members will discuss what sort of a relationship to have with the West Indies board henceforth, and whether we should play with them in future will also be discussed,” said Patel
ESPNcricinfo noted that according to the draft FTP, India are supposed to play ten Tests, 15 ODIs and four T20s over five series during the FTP cycle from 2015 to 2023.
Four of the five series are scheduled to be played in the West Indies.
“The working committee members will have dialogue on this and after that we may consider to not pursue further FTP programmes with West Indies,” Patel was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India yesterday.
“I had a very hectic time and this was an unprecedented decision. We will discuss all these at the working committee,” Patel added.
Withdrawal timeline
7 October 2014:
Mr Dave Cameron sent a copy of a letter addressed to Mr Wavell Hinds, which stated that the failure of the West Indies players to take the field will leave the WICB with —‘no alternative but to cancel the match and notify the BCCI accordingly and recall the team.’
8 October 2014:
Around 3 a.m. India time, Mr Dave Cameron sent a mail to the BCCI stating he is withdrawing the team from the tour. Mr Sanjay Patel rushed to Kochi and spoke to the WI players and managed to get on with the match.
12 October 2014:
Mr Patel met Mr Cameron in Dubai and asked him for a confirmation that the rest of the tour will go on. Mr Cameron assured that by close of business on October 15, he will confirm one way or the other.
AM of 16 October 2014:
There was no response from Mr Cameron.
PM of 16 October 2014:
Mr Patel sent a reminder mail to Mr Cameron, seeking an urgent response.
17 October 2014 - 3 a.m.:
Mr Cameron sent a response stating that — ‘WICB are not able to provide any assurances or guarantees’ and that WICB will communicate their position by end of the day on 17 October.
17 October 2014 - 10 a.m.
Mr Richard Pybus of the WICB sent a mail to the BCCI stating — ‘WICB’s position is that if the players refuse to play then the players must return home and the rest of the ODI and Test tour is called off. This has been discussed with the WICB President and CEO and they are fully aware of developments here.’
17 October - 2 p.m.
Mr Richie Richardson sent a mail to the BCCI stating the following: ‘Despite agreeing to play the 4th ODI in Dharamshala, regrettably, the current West Indies players have decided that they will not participate any further in this tour and wish to return home after this match. In light of this, I suggest that the entire squad travel to Delhi tomorrow and be booked into a hotel there, until international return flights have been booked.
On behalf of the entire squad and WICB, I apologise for the inconvenience caused.’ This makes it clear that all along, the WICB was withdrawing its team if a resolution was not reached in the issue with their players.
-
Rock and a hard place for WICB
By Tony Cozier
Story Created: Oct 18, 2014 at 9:06 PM ECT
Express
THROUGH the clouds of confusion that enveloped the West Indies players’ final decision to abandon their tour of India after the fourth ODI on Friday, a few relevant points are apparent.
First and foremost, as the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), the leadership of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and Dwayne Bravo and his aggrieved team in India carried on their angry, long-range war in cyber space over the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding/Collective Bargaining Agreement (MoU/CBA), all three clearly failed to appreciate the damaging consequences such a drastic decision was bound to have on them all.
Perhaps they believed that, as in previous similar cases, such as the withdrawal of Packer players from the team in 1978, the standoff at Heathrow Airport prior to the initial 1998-99 tour of South Africa and the strikes before the Sri Lanka and Bangladesh series of 2005 and 2009, that political leaders, or some other third parties, would materialise to soon sort out the issue, with all forgiven and normal service resumed.
This was different. This was the abandonment of a significant tour to the game’s present financial powerhouse; it was part of the International Cricket Council’s Future Tours Programme (FTP).
“Shocked and extremely disappointed”, the Board of Control and Cricket in India (BCCI) set out the effects in unambiguous language.
“The WICB’s inability to resolve internal issues with its players and allowing the same to affect an ongoing bilateral series does not reflect well on any of those involved,” it said. “The withdrawal gives little thought to the game, the players and the long standing relations between the BCCI and the WICB.”
A stern headmaster could not have admonished a wayward student more vehemently.
It would “pursue all options available to protect its rights whilst seeking appropriate action from the ICC (International Cricket Council) to sure that its interests and those of the game at large will not suffer any damage due to such acts of indiscretion”.
Predictably, legal action against the WICB is likely, seeking compensation for losses, mainly of television rights and ticket sales. The reported figure is at least US$65 million. Whether to go ahead and claim would be made by its working committee at a meeting on Tuesday in Hyderabad. Such figures would financially cripple the WICB.
There are also suggestions that West Indian players in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), a BCCI offshoot, could be banned for participation for at least a year; given their popularity in India and their value to their franchises, this is less likely.
More ominous is the assertion by BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel that it would be “very difficult to play West Indies in bilateral series in future”.
“They have to demonstrate the willingness that such situations never happen again,” he told the Press Trust of India news agency. “I would say that India’s next tour of West Indies is highly unlikely to go ahead in the current situation.”
With its purchase of broadcast rights, ground perimeter advertising and sponsorship by its big corporations, India in the Caribbean brings more revenue to the WICB than any other tour.
It should not have come to this.
Typically, the WICB, the organisation with overall responsibility for the governance of the game in the region, allowed the gathering storm to develop until it was too late to change its course.
The first involvement of all of its directors was not until after the players’ withdrawal on Friday and then through what the WICB called an “emergency meeting” by teleconference.
This was followed by an announcement that there would be a further “emergency board meeting” on Tuesday in Barbados. It would, it stated, “conduct a thorough assessment of all the ramifications of the premature end to the tour and any action which may be necessary therefrom”.
Already, one director, head of the Jamaican Cricket Association (JCA) Bill Heaven, has reflected widespread public opinion, stating that “all interested parties and concerned parties should come together in a frank, purposeful and meaningful way and we should be able to find a middle-of-the-road position”.
That coming together should have been instigated by the WICB as soon as Dwayne Bravo and his players made known their strong opposition to the new MoU/CBA, signed by WICB president Dave Cameron and the head of the WIPA, Wavell Hinds, on September 18.
Even as Cameron informed the players that the WICB recognised only the WIPA as the players’ bargaining agent, as it always did, he and Hinds should have immediately boarded a plane to India to meet Bravo and his men face to face and talk, in Heaven’s words, “in a frank, purposeful and meaningful way” in an effort to find “a middle-of-the-road position”.
As it was, it took Sanjay Patel, the BCCI secretary, to fly to Kochi to influence the players into not pulling out of the tour even before the first match. As well meant as it was, it was an embarrassing intervention by an Indian official into what was an internal West Indies’ matter.
In the meantime, the e-mails between Bravo and Hinds and, subsequently, Bravo and Cameron became increasingly scathing; egos being what they are, the effect was to push the factions so far apart it became impossible to find “a middle-of-the-road position”.
The WICB revealed on Friday that a “delegation” of its chief executive officer Michael Muirhead, head of its cricket committee Julian Charles and Hinds had been scheduled to arrive in Delhi tomorrow (Monday) to meet with the players “on a number of issues”, among them discussing their concerns over the new MoU/CBA.
That won’t be necessary now. Those West Indians travelling out of India would be heading in the opposite direction. Tuesday’s WICB directors meeting in Barbados is critical.
As much as they are furious over the latest strike action by the players, they need to be guided by practicality rather than emotion.
The fact that the ‘A’ team is continuing with its tour of Sri Lanka is an indication that not every West Indies player is dissatisfied with Hinds’ leadership of the WIPA.
Against both Sri Lanka in 2005 and Bangladesh in 2009, the WICB assembled replacements for those on strike, When they attempted to so the same this time, the BCCI dismissed such an arrangement as unacceptable.
South Africa is next on the West Indies ICC Future Tours list for three Tests, five ODIs and two T20s from December 10 through January 28; the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand immediately follows.
Cricket South Africa would no doubt find a weakened team as unacceptable as the BCCI. The ICC is likely to have the same opinion on the World Cup.
The WICB has placed itself between a rock and a hard place. The question now is how can it wriggle free.
-
BCCI’s damages bill to Windies may touch $65m
Published: Guardian
Sunday, October 19, 2014
The BCCI is likely to claim damages of at least Rs 400 crore (US$65 million approx) from the WICB for West Indies having pulled out of the tour to India. The BCCI’s working committee will decide whether to go ahead with the claim at a meeting on Tuesday in Hyderabad.
West Indies had agreed to play five ODIs, a Twenty20 and three Tests in India, but pulled out after the fourth ODI, in Dharamsala, due to the players being displeased over a revision to their payment structure. This meant that the BCCI lost out on revenue for 17 match-days. Though Sri Lanka agreed to fill in for West Indies and play five ODIs in India in November, the BCCI will still lose income for 12 match-days for the 2014-15 season. The BCCI is likely to claim those damages from the WICB.
“We have referred the matter to our legal cell and asked them to let us know by 21st about how we can pursue the issue legally,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said, declining to elaborate on the numbers since he said they were still being computed. “They (WICB) entered into a bilateral agreement with us, and they abandoned the tour due to their internal issues, so we will have to seek compensation.
But, depending on the legal advice, the working committee will decide the future course of action.” For the 2013-14 season, revenue for each match-day of India’s home series against West Indies was believed to be approximately Rs 33 crore. BCCI insiders revealed that the 2014-15 season’s estimation was “around the same as last year”. This would mean that the West Indies’ pullout will result in BCCI losing at least Rs 396 crore.
According the agreements signed between Full Members for bilateral series, each board keeps the revenue generated for their home series and incur logistics costs from the time the visiting team arrives in the country till they board a return flight. The BCCI’s revenue is primarily generated through broadcast sponsorship, series-title sponsorship, team-title sponsorship, apparel sponsorship, minor share of advertising from host broadcaster, gate receipts and in-stadia advertising.
Since the broadcast and series-title sponsorships deals are on a per match basis, irrespective of whether it’s a T20, Test or ODI, that income is unlikely to be affected since the five cancelled matches against West Indies (three Tests, an ODI and a Twenty20) will be replaced by five ODIs against Sri Lanka. The apparel sponsorship deal is for a fixed amount, irrespective on the number of matches at home.
However, since the broadcaster’s revenue through advertising is going to be affected with the loss of 12 match-days, including a full Test series, that will have an impact on the BCCI’s coffers as the board gets a minor share of advertising revenue from the host broadcaster. Also, it is likely that Star India, the host broadcaster, may ask for a reduction in broadcast fees which they have been paying to the board. At the moment, Star India pays the BCCI Rs 43.20 crore per match.
The decrease in broadcast revenues will also impact the state associations since the BCCI distributes 70% of it equally amongst the 27 members who participate in the Ranji Trophy. Besides, if any of the five state associations that were allotted one of the cancelled games against West Indies don’t get a game against Sri Lanka, they will also lose out on substantial income. The host associations get to keep income generated through ticket sales and in-stadia advertising. (ESPNcricinfo)
-
Walsh: Negotiations, not strikes, the way to solve impasse
Published: Guardian
Sunday, October 19, 2014
KINGSTON—Legendary fast bowler Courtney Walsh says he does not support players’ strikes as a first option and would have preferred negotiations to be fully explored first in order to find a solution to the ongoing bitter impasse between West Indies players and their union, WIPA. Walsh, a West Indies selector, was speaking on Thursday before it was announced that the West Indies one-day squad were abandoning their tour of India over their pay and contracts dispute.
“I heard that there may be a strike and that the team may be returning home. I don’t have the facts, but to me that would be another sad day for West Indies cricket,” Walsh said. “I don't think you should have out dirty linen in public. It could have been handled a lot better. If efforts were made first and nothing happened, then you sort of take other measures, but if the first thing you want to do is strike, well, I don't think it's right.”
Upset by the failure to find a resolution to their pay dispute, West Indies one-day squad announced Friday they were quitting the tour with matches still to be played. The threat of strike had been hanging since the opening one-dayer in Kochi when the players had to be convinced by Indian officials to take the field. The players are aggrieved by the new Collective Bargaining Agreement signed between WIPA and the West Indies Cricket Board, which they claim results in a drastic reduction in their earnings. Their pleas to return to the old CBA while a new agreement could be negotiated, went unheeded.
Walsh, who was part of the West Indies team 16 years ago which refused to travel on to South Africa from London in a dispute with the WICB over tour fees, said the regional game was now “past that stage”. “We've all had issues with the board, from Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd and I was part of the team that had to strike – or didn't leave England for various reasons,” Walsh pointed out.
“But we have gone past that stage and you want to give everything a try first. All of us want the players to be happy but there is a right way and a wrong way of going about it.” Walsh, a former West Indies captain, snared 519 wickets from 132 Tests. (CMC)
-
Lloyd apologises to Indian people
Published: Guardian
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Chairman of West Indies selectors Sir Clive Lloyd has apologised to the people of India for the West Indies team pulling out of their current series against the home team. On Friday, the West Indies team led by Dwayne Bravo played the fourth match of the Micromax limited overs series against India and then promptly announced that they were not going to play the final match of the ODI series, as well as the lone T20 and the three Test matches.
The team decided to pull out of the tour after they were unhappy with their new payment structure signed off by the head of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), Wavell Hinds. The move has left many in India angry and the former West Indies captain tried to do damage control at a function organised by India Today, that brought together captains of seven World Cup winning teams. Lloyd speaking at the function said, “I want to apologise to the people of India for our team pulling out of the current series. It is unfortunate and in my opinion wrong and I want to unreservedly apologise to India.
“We have enjoyed such great relations in the past and I do hope that this move by some of our cricketers don’t spoil what we have worked hard and long to achieve in the past. The cricketers of India and the West Indies always shared a close relationship, so did the boards and also the fans. I hope that this action by some will not sully that and we can continue being the close friends we have been ever since.”
A visibly emotional Lloyd told the T&T Guardian after the function that he really hoped that some damage control can take place at this point in time because relations between the two boards are so important. “Only if you know of the close ties between the two nations, then and only then you would realise the potential damage this can cause.”
T&T Guardian understands that Lloyd met with the West Indies players the night before they decided to call off the tour and gave them his perspective about the long standing relationship between the West Indies and India. Without getting into the battle between the players and the board, the man who changed the face of West Indies cricket decades ago said he was interested with keeping the good relations for the betterment of all concerned, including the players who play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
-
India 2016 tour of Caribbean under threat
Published:Guardian
Sunday, October 19, 2014
(http://s17.postimg.org/ocxqfzkzz/image.jpg)
The Dalai Lama receives an autographed West Indies shirt from West indies ODI captain Dwayne Bravo, right, ahead of the fourth ODI in Dharamsala, India, on Friday. Photo: ESPNcricinfo
MUMBAI—The West Indies Cricket Board’s finances could take another huge hit with the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) saying yesterday it was now reviewing its 2016 tour of the Caribbean.
Indian officials are fuming after West Indies players abandoned the one-day tour of India on Friday, following the fourth One-Day International in Dharamsala, over a pay dispute with their union, the West Indies Players Association.
The players’ move scuppered Monday’s final ODI carded for Kolkata, the lone Twenty20 International in Cuttack on Wednesday, and the three-Test series that was expected to bowl off October 30. “It will be very difficult to play West Indies in bilateral series in future. They have to demonstrate the willingness that such situations never happen again,” international media quoted BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel as saying. “I would say that India’s next tour of West Indies is highly unlikely to go ahead in the current situation.”
The series started under a cloud of uncertainty with West Indies players threatening to withdraw their services ahead of the first ODI in Kochi, over their contractual grouse with WIPA. They argued the new terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which WIPA signed recently with the West Indies Cricket Board, would result in a drastic reduction in their earnings. A flurry of ill-tempered emails between the players and WIPA led to an escalation of tensions and when a last-ditch appeal to the WICB by the players failed, the squad informed team management they would no longer continue the tour.
Patel said regardless of the off-field issues, West Indies had an obligation to complete the tour. “Whatever the dispute, they should have honoured the bilateral agreement,” Patel said. “We thank our friends Sri Lanka who agreed to the tour on a short notice but unfortunately we couldn’t fit in the tests as there was not enough time.” West Indies are expected to host India in three Tests, five ODIs and a T20 early in 2016, a tour that was expected to be a financial windfall for the WICB. The BCCI is the world’s richest cricket board, with series involving India often attracting high global viewership. Millionaire businessman N Srinivasan, a former BCCI president, is now chairman of the International Cricket Council.
Patel said the BCCI intended to take steps to ensure it did not find itself in a similar situation again, with a team walking out on a bilateral series. “We have suffered huge losses and the ICC is our parent body and we are going to ask them to ensure that this never happens in the future,” Patel said. The WICB are also expected to face legal action from the BCCI as fall-out for the one-day squad failing to complete the series. (CMC)
-
I will be a little more understanding if the players were having problems with the West Indian cricket board but their gripe is with WIPA, their own players association. smh
-
Would agree sando prince if the Wibc was not involved at all ,but the board lay in bed with the union,and now acting innocent .
-
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/WICB-batting-on-ticky-wicket-280144862.html
AS the directors of West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) met in an emergency session in Barbados on Tuesday “to conduct a thorough assessment of all the ramifications” of Friday’s unprecedented abandonment of the Indian tour, they faced the prospect that the organisation could go out of business should the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) press a claim for damages along with its suspension of future bilateral tours.
The directors entered their meeting on Tuesday hours after the BCCI confirmed its intention to defer future bilateral tours; the International Cricket Council (ICC) Future Tours Programme (FTP) lists India for five series against the West Indies in the next eight years, including four visits to the Caribbean.
Although it did not specifically mention earlier speculation that it would seek compensation from the WICB for financial losses, it stated that it would start legal proceedings.
It is estimated that the revenue shortfall from 17 blank playing days on the cancelled tour, mainly through television rights and ticket sales, is over US$60 million.
Doubts over the WICB’s survival had already been raised before the present crisis by the chartered accountants, KPMG, in the last financial statement for the year ending September 30, 2013.
KPMG warned that the net loss for the preceding year of US$5,821,413, along with shareholders’ deficiencies of US$5,693,323, “raise substantial doubt that the company will be able to continue as a going concern”.
It pointed out that the WICB’s revenue is “cyclical in nature”, depending on the popularity of the various tours undertaken by the West Indies team.
“During less popular tours, the company is significantly dependent on financing from an overdraft facility,” it added.
Only tours to the Caribbean by India and England are profitable, mainly through television rights and ground perimeter advertising and, in England’s case, thousands of tourists who follow their team.
England are carded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) Future Tours Programme (FTP) for three Tests next April and May.
Last year, two Tests each against Sri Lanka and Pakistan under the ICC’s FTP were scrapped to accommodate a triangular ODI tournament between West Indies, Sri Lanka and India and five ODIs and two T20s against Pakistan.
Revenue from these were diminished by an earlier series of two Tests, three ODIs and two T20s against Zimbabwe, the bottom-placed team in the ICC rankings.
New Zealand and Bangladesh, both alongside the West Indies at the bottom end of the rankings, were the visitors this year; daily attendance at their matches was rarely over 1,000.
KCMG’s 2013 statement reported that the WICB had projected “positive cash flows over the next two years”. It based its optimism on revenue from its share of the 2014 ICC World T20, the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and the signing on of a “major sponsor” for the Super50 tournament.
The Super50 was staged exclusively in Trinidad and Tobago. Its sponsor was Nagico Insurance with financial backing from the Trinidad and Tobago government which is reportedly still to pay the WICB its share in full.
Ironically, the present impasse comes nine months after Australia, England and India took over as leaders of the ICC, with the support of the WICB and all but one of its other full members.
At the time, president Dave Cameron said that the new arrangement “would allow the WICB to increase the number of profitable tours it hosts while reducing the number of unprofitable tours it is obliged to host under the FTP”.
Circumstances have been dramatically changed by the upheavals in India
-
http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/story/793499.html
West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels has strongly disagreed with the statement from West Indies ODI captain Dwayne Bravo, who said that the Jamaican had given consent to standing by "any decision taken by the team" including abandoning the tour of India. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Samuels pointed out that all three parties - players, WICB and West Indies Players Association - had handled the situation inappropriately but directed scathing criticism at Wavell Hinds, saying that the WIPA president and CEO was the "real reason" the situation became "messed up".
"No, I did not say that I am going to stand by any decision," Samuels said in a telephone interview on Monday from Jamaica. "Because nobody asked me questions like that. It is up to the individual to say okay I am with you. You had people in the room that didn't even open their mouth or say anything. At the end of the day, I went there and asked my questions and I wasn't satisfied [by the response]. If I was satisfied then I will be the first person to come out because I am an outspoken person. Then I will be the first person to come out and defend everything with [Bravo]."
This is the second time in less than a week Samuels has expressed a difference of opinion in the public domain against Bravo. In an interview with a radio station last week, Samuels said he spent time "ordering room service" while the rest of the players were attending meetings as he wanted "to finish the tour." Bravo said he was "shocked" at Samuels considering he had participated in the meeting "vigorously" asking questions.
However, Samuels clarified that he had asked certain questions of Bravo in the two team meetings he had attended in India and having failed to get a convincing response, he decided to stay away. According to Samuels, he had asked Bravo to come out and explain to the Caribbean public the exact situation because failing to be transparent with them was not right.
"One of the questions I asked was the public don't really know what is happening," Samuels said. "The public are being misled. They need to know the truth behind this [pullout]. They need to go out there and explain what is really happening. He wasn't willing to go and do that. That is why I say that if you are not up to doing what I want to go there and do, which is the right thing, then you are not going to get my full support. You cannot expect [me] to go and fight a war if you are not willing to go out and speak."
Samuels' reactions are a setback for Bravo who had said in a media statement released last Friday that the decision to leave India after the fourth ODI in Dharamsala was taken with the "full concert" of all the players. Samuels said that he was not surprised at all by Bravo releasing a statement but he agreed, and suggested, that calling him directly to sort things out would have been the best step.
"What he should have done, if you are a true leader, is to go out and call the player and ask him did you say things like this," Samuels said. He also stressed he was not siding with either WICB or WIPA in the current situation but criticized administrators for failing to be proactive to come up with a solution. "I am not basically swinging with nobody in this matter. If you cannot go out and talk it as it is then I am not up to it."
"All situation is handled badly. Wavell is wrong. The [WICB] president [Dave Cameron] should have taken a flight down to India and come and have a talk. To sit in the Caribbean and not come and speak to the players cannot be the right way to deal with things. So right across the board it is wrong."
Incidentally representatives of all three warring factions met in Jamaica on Monday for "cordial and fruitful" discussions as described in a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting. Cameron and Hinds were present at the meeting which also was attended by players representatives Andre Russell and Jason Holder, along with legal counsel. Though Samuels said the blame for the tour abandonment should be spread among all the parties involved, he feels Hinds is most at fault.
"If you look at the situation, the real, real person here to be blamed is WIPA. Wavell Hinds, the president, that basically messed up everything. If you look at the situation you can't really blame [the WICB] for accepting what Wavell has done. Wavell is the main problem here. The players are upset with what Wavell has done. But remember I am not part of WIPA."
Asked why he was not accredited to the players' body, Samuels revealed the only reason was the way WIPA left him out "in the cold" when he was serving at two-year ban for having links with an Indian bookmaker. "Since I got the two-year ban I was left in the cold, on my own. I have to get my own lawyer. I have to do everything on my own. WIPA wasn't there for me. So I come back into cricket and choose not to be a part of WIPA because WIPA did not help me. So I do not feel like I should do anything for WIPA."
Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo
RSS Feeds: Nagraj Gollapudi
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.