West Indies in India 2014-15 Players hold WICB responsible for pullout...

[socafighter]

    
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

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[socafighter]

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.

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[socafighter]

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.

[socafighter]

BCCI to review West Indies’ participation in IPL


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.

[socafighter]

                                 
                                   
 
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.

[Quags]

Haaaa haaaa haaaa ha ha
Burn baby burn haha .
Suckers suck on that lol .

[Deeks]

Qmire, what's this is about?

[Deeks]

Should we be    or  ?

[rotatopoti3]

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.

[socafighter]

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.

[socafighter]

Qmire, what's this is about?

He wants to be the founder of the militant wing of the WICB....

[rotatopoti3]

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...

[Deeks]

From worse to worser!!! This is friggin' unbelievable!!!!

[rotatopoti3]

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...

[socafighter]

SELFISH
...says former West Indies batsman of players’ action

By \\\\\ Roger Seepersad
Story Created: Oct 17, 2014 at 9:26 PM ECT


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.

[socafighter]

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

[socafighter]

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.”

[socafighter]

India pick up the bones as WI head towards uncertainty
18 Oct 2014, 0847 hrs IST,  Aditya Bhattacharya,  gocricket.com 


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.

[socafighter]

Dark day for Windies cricket
18 Oct 2014, 1009 hrs IST,  Avijit Ghosh,  TNN 



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?

[socafighter]

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.”

[Quags]

Qmire, what's this is about?

He wants to be the founder of the militant wing of the WICB....

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 .

[Quags]

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 .

[Deeks]

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.

[100% Barataria]

   banana organization

[dwolfman]

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?

[dwolfman]

I agree with Mr. Davis. What was so urgent about this dispute that it couldn't have been handled after the tour?

[Quags]

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.

[socafighter]

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


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.

[socafighter]

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


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.

[socafighter]

Walsh urges diplomatic approach to WIPA-Windies impasse
BY SANJAY MYERS Observer staff reporter myerss@jamaicaobserver.com

Saturday, October 18, 2014 

 


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.