Help us CARICOM!

[rotatopoti3]

WICB to seek regional support to meet BCCI demands

By  Roger Seepersad
West Indies Cricket Board president Dave Cameron said the regional body will be enlisting the support of Caricom  (Caribbean Community) to meet the million-dollar demand for compensation by  the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after the aborted tour of India last month.
The West Indies players, led by one-day captain Dwayne Bravo, withdrew their services after the fourth match of the one-day series on October 17 because of a pay dispute with the WICB and the players union, the West Indies Players Association (WIPA).
The pullout angered the BCCI which has formally given notice of its intention to, “seek compensation from the WICB to the fullest extent permissible in law,” since it holds the regional body liable for losses incurred because of the cancellation of three Test matches and a solitary Twenty20 International.
In its letter to the WICB on Friday, the BCCI claimed losses totaling US$41.97 million and it also called on the WICB to formally inform it, in writing, of the steps it intends to take to compensate the BCCI for those losses. The Indian board gave a 15-day time frame for the money to be paid, failing which, it said it would file legal proceedings against the WICB.
On Friday prime ministers of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves and Grenada, Dr Keith Mitchell met with Cameron, WICB vice-president Emmanuel Nanthan, WICB director Baldath Mahabir, Bravo, West Indies Test captain Denesh Ramdin and WIPA president Wavell Hinds (via teleconference) at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain in a five-hour session to try and resolve the impasse between the players and the Board.
Asked how the WICB was planning to handle the BCCI demand, Cameron said: “That is a matter that we will enlist the support of Caricom going forward.”
Concerning the impasse itself, “I think what we have done, we have a modality for the way forward, so that to us is very important.”
Prime Minister Mitchell, who left midway through the meeting said: “There is a considerable attempt to find a resolution. The two prime ministers spoke passionately about the need for a resolution in the interest of the entire West Indies community.”
Asked if Caricom would try to assist the WICB in handling the BCCI claim for damages, Mitchell said: “If there is not a resolution (of the impasse) then we can’t go there, so a resolution to the current impasse is crucial.
“There is tremendous investment in sporting facilities and in the development of the game of cricket and I think the players, the Board and the union must understand that, and we made it very clear how we see this.
“I made it very clear that we will all be losers in this if there is not a resolution quickly. Whoever has to give up what, it must be done in the interest of cricket and in the interest of our economies and the future of the players of the region,” he added.
At the conclusion of the meeting, although Gonsalves did not reveal what compromises were made, he said all parties “arrived at several conclusions and understandings to move the process forward.”
Gonsalves seemed confident that they had reached an agreement but insisted that all parties will have to now discuss the proposals with their colleagues before making anything official.
“We are in a far better position at ten o’clock tonight than we were at five. I think that on the basis of the discussions, we have the framework and the modalities for the resolution of the issues and for cricket lovers. I fully expect that the best team will be in South Africa representing us,” said Gonsalves.
“Everybody is going back to their various entities. The 14 players who were in India, they have to talk to their WIPA leadership and their colleagues and Dave has to speak to his colleagues on the Board, but believe us, we made very good progress,” he concluded.
Also present at Friday’s meeting were Luke Hamel-Smith of the M Hamel-Smith and Company law firm which represented the WICB and Queen’s Counsel Ralph Thorne who represented the players.

WICBC cannot be serious....BS..d gawl this board have...talk about chickpeas governance....

[weary1969]

Any govt that give them a red Zimbabwe cent should run them out of town.

[de_redman]

Buh what madness is this??

[vb]

I still trying to understand how the players didn't know what WIPA was doing. 

[weary1969]

I still trying to understand how the players didn't know what WIPA was doing. 

Because u doh expect yuh union to sell u out.

[Deeks]

Articel from the Express October 29th. This may the future of WI cricket.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/The-way-of-the-Federation-280872402.html

The way of the Federation

 By Michael Prince



Story Created: Oct 29, 2014 at 10:28 PM ECT
(
Story Updated: Oct 30, 2014 at 8:52 AM ECT )

 One of the most disturbing aspects of the decision of the West Indies players to abandon the India tour is that the players either do not yet understand or perhaps did not care about the consequences of their action.
In any management/labour environment, a withdrawal of services by workers, without the endorsement of their bargaining representatives, creates a precarious situation. In many cases, those consequences could include disciplinary action, for which the bargaining agent may not be able to successfully defend the employee. It is a very ominous situation for the future of West Indies cricket as well, because the consequences also extend to the WICB in its relationship with the ICC and BCCI.
No one knows exactly how the players’ decision was made and the whole truth may never come out. But, as we have seen with Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo, the recriminations have begun, and some questions must be answered. For instance, was there a free vote taken, with a specific approval number required? Were certain players pressured or coerced? Was there a secret ballot or a simple showing of hands? Was the decision autocratic, where just three or four players imposed their will on the others? All these questions are relevant.
Considering that it involved a collection of players with varying interests and concerns, the only way such a decision should have been made, was by a secret ballot. Such a ballot should have called for a “Yes” vote of 75 per cent plus one. With 17 players on tour, it would have required 13 players, in order to obtain a mandate. Any player who wrote “not sure” on his ballot, should have been counted as a “No” vote. If things were not done that way, the recriminations will last a long time, as many players may only now begin to realise their careers and their livelihood may have been jeopardised in the process. To be realistic, there are players from that tour, who will never again represent the West Indies.
Some people may even argue whether West Indies cricket still has a future. This is a defining moment, considering that the incident has occurred at a time when the team is languishing in the basement of international cricket, and struggling with little success, to raise its game. It is also hampered by a plethora of irritations that adversely affect cohesiveness and camaraderie. Maybe the time has come for everyone to acknowledge a West Indies cricket team is a concept that was born out of the colonial era, but which has outlived its usefulness and its relevance, and now belongs to the history books.
The West Indies Federation was a noble concept too, but quickly became impractical. Eventually, each colony went on to become an independent nation. For the love of the game, those same independent nations persevered in maintaining the cricket team, and succeeded where the politicians failed. Over the years, the team could always be counted on to be competitive, and for a period of almost 20 years, dominated the world. The present decline has now gone on for the past 15 years and the slide has accelerated. According to the old adage, nothing lasts forever, or, to put it another way, all good things must come to an end.
Actions normally lead to reactions or in this case, consequences. It is to be expected the ICC should have a lot to say and do, as far as the repercussions or fallout for the WICB, as a result of this debacle. While there have been cases in the past of a tour being cut short, the unilateral aspect of this is unprecedented. The ultimate blame rests with the WICB and it would not be over the top for the ICC to impose a suspension on the WICB that could even extend to the World Cup next year. If that should happen, it could lead to the break-up of the West Indies cricket team.
Consequently, all those independent Caribbean nations that emerged from the ashes of West Indies Federation in 1962, would then seek their own ICC accreditation. Right now, T&T, Jamaica and Barbados are all capable of putting a highly competitive limited overs team on the field that can challenge the best in the world.
This may actually turn out to be quite logical, since Test cricket has died in the West Indies, with the fans preferring an appetite for only 50-over and 20-over cricket. Obviously, there will be no fan appeal in Australia, England or South Africa for a touring team from Trinidad. But a team from one of those countries could visit the Caribbean and do some island hopping to play seven ODI’s and three T20s. The fans will be out in the thousands. These “new” ICC members would also be able to compete as independent countries in future World Cup events.
In 1957, the British Caribbean Football Association was formed among the colonies, to compete internationally, just as the cricketers had been doing. The idea eventually collapsed, and since then, everyone has competed independently on the world football stage. Maybe the time has come for cricket.

[vb]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/795397.html

Just as two prime ministers were meeting with the main characters in Port-of-Spain on Friday in an effort to find a settlement of yet another of the several recent challenges that have destabilised West Indies cricket, an email popped up in the inbox of West Indies board president Dave Cameron.

It was not unexpected, but it as chilling all the same. It was from Sanjay Patel, secretary of BCCI, confirming earlier notice that the Indian board would seek compensation for the losses it suffered from the West Indies team's premature pullout of the tour of India after the fourth ODI on October 17.

Patel itemised "in plain economic terms" the areas accounting for an overall claim of US$47.2 million; among them were broadcasting rights fees, title and team sponsorship and ticket sales. He gave the WICB 15 days to "formally inform the BCCI, in writing, of the steps it intends to take" to meet the claim, otherwise it would take legal action in India.

As he indicated in his previous statements, Patel left no doubt over where the BCCI placed the responsibility for the termination. It was on the WICB and, more specifically, president Cameron.

He noted that it was only through his own approach to the players that the first ODI went ahead. The intervention of "high-ranking BCCI officials" ensured the next three matches were played. "Finally, after the fourth ODI ar Dharamshala on October 17, you pulled out your team and communicated your decision to cancel the remainder of the tour," he declared.

The terminology is pertinent. It wasn't that the players withdrew but that Cameron, fiddling on the other side of the globe while the flames were engulfing the tour, pulled them out.

"The adverse financial ramifications and the negative impact of your action to unilaterally cancel the remainder of the tour was well within your understanding, yet you still went ahead and cancelled the tour in complete disregard of your legal commitments," Patel added for good measure.

It was an issue simultaneously occupying the attention of Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Keith Mitchell, prime minister of Grenada, Cameron, Dwayne Bravo, West Indies' ODI captain and spokesman for the players in India, and Ralph Thorne, the players' lawyer.

Wavell Hinds, president the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) whose signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding/Collective Bargaining Agreement (MoU/CBA) with the board was vehemently rejected by Bravo and his men, was said to have been involved through Skype.

There were reliable reports yesterday that agreement was reached that the new MoM/CBA would be renegotiated. But a time frame was not given. In the interim, all the players will be available for selection for the December 10-January 28 tour of South Africa and the February 14-March 26 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.



     
 
There is no more appropriate time to revive the weighty report presented by former Jamaica prime minister PJ Patterson and his committee in 2007 
 
   
 


In addition, Sir David Simmons, former Chief Justice and Attorney General of Barbados, will head the task force, established at the WICB emergency directors' meeting in Barbados as far back as October 14, to examine all aspects of the fiasco in India. It will include Rev Sir Wes Hall, the iconic fast bowler of the 1960s, himself a former WICB president.

In the circumstances, as encouraging as it was, such decisions seemed immaterial.

For an organisation warned by the chartered accountants KPMG in its 2012-13 financial statement that its net loss of US$5.8 million for the previous year, along with shareholders' deficiencies of $5.6million, "raise substantial doubt that the company will be able to continue as a going concern", it was clear that US$47.2 would be way beyond the WICB's ability to pay.

So what next?

Rudi Webster, a Barbadian now resident in Grenada, has been close to the game all his life. He once bowled fast for Scotland, Warwickshire and Otago, has been psychologist to West Indies teams, and was the West Indies manager in Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket. He has suggested what seems to me the most sensible way forward. It was echoed in a separate conversation yesterday with Edward Ince, a prominent businessman in Barbados and a one-time club mate of mine.

"If the board resolves the crisis, it should immediately commit itself to a structural adjustment programme somewhat similar to those designed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for countries that are performing poorly and experiencing serious financial, organisational and leadership problems," Webster wrote last week. "Failure to do so will result in a repetition of the behaviour patterns that have plagued West Indies cricket for years."

With its connotations of neo-colonialism, the IMF is not readily embraced by Caribbean governments. Yet its strategies have been successful for some, most recently Jamaica; others simply listen to its advice and implement their own home-grown plans.

Ince would change IMF to ICC. The governing body for world cricket would act as caretaker for the WICB over the next two years, ensuring that proper governance is maintained.

The ICC was reconstituted last January, giving Australia, India and England the paramount positions. The comment made by the chairman of Cricket Australia, Wally Edwards, prior to the ICC meeting in Dubai next week, that he couldn't imagine West Indies being lost to the game presented a glimmer of hope for the WICB.

"I think there's a genuine desire at the ICC meeting next week to get things back on track," he said. "In the past, you'd talk about these things but you could never resolve anything… because they were factions all around the table and it was very difficult to have good quality debates to make a decision". In other words, much like the WICB.

"We now have a fully functioning board and it's well led," he added. In other words, the antithesis of the WICB.

There are, of course, a couple of reports on the subject of governance gathering dust somewhere in the WICB offices in Antigua without their main points implemented.

There is no more appropriate time to revive the weighty report presented by former Jamaica prime minister PJ Patterson and his committee in 2007 and to have another look at Kittian Queen's Counsel Charles Wilkin's recommendations that were rejected out of hand last year.

Webster cautions of the consequences should the status quo be allowed to remain after the cleaning up of the latest mess.

"There is no guarantee that these steps will be taken because, unlike democratic countries, the board is not accountable to the people or any authority and can very well do as it pleases," he wrote.

Doing as it pleases has caused West Indies cricket the embarrassment, and the losses, from three previous strikes and repeated standoffs with leading players.
 

Tony Cozier has written about and commentated on cricket in the Caribbean for 50 years
 RSS Feeds: Tony Cozier
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

[fishs]

Any govt that give them a red Zimbabwe cent should run them out of town.

 In both India and the West Indies cricket is bigger than a sport, the help the board will want probably will be diplomatic, which is something the twats running the WICB cannot do.

If India sticks to their guns about compensation it will be the end of unified cricket in the caribbean, nobody wants that and certainly not the Indians.
WICB will probably have to commit to a smaller part of the pie for future tours.

[weary1969]

Any govt that give them a red Zimbabwe cent should run them out of town.

 In both India and the West Indies cricket is bigger than a sport, the help the board will want probably will be diplomatic, which is something the twats running the WICB cannot do.

If India sticks to their guns about compensation it will be the end of unified cricket in the caribbean, nobody wants that and certainly not the Indians.
WICB will probably have to commit to a smaller part of the pie for future tours.

I95 interviwed this joker Cameron b4 he even became Presient and he is on record saying they want to intervention from Caricom. Now yuh do yuh nonesense Caricom must help yuh out. I have no problem wit the end of unified cricket in the region if it has to be runned by these buffoons in Factory Rd in Antigua. Once the WICB continues to exist in this format it will continu to go no where.

[Sando prince]

I still trying to understand how the players didn't know what WIPA was doing. 

Because u doh expect yuh union to sell u out.

True dat Weary! 

[vb]

I know ppl like to find fault with the Board. But is not the Board's fault if WIPA and it's Rep. aren't communicating. The Board also offered a back up team which the Indians refused and it's their right to do so.

WIPA has embarrassed itself. And Mr. Hinds has some explaining to do.

VB