West Indies players will boycott the upcoming series against Bangladesh amid an inner dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) over renewing their existing contract.
In a stern address to the media at the Prestige Holdings Corporate Box at the Queen's Park Oval, West Indies Players Association (WIPA) President and CEO Dinanath Ramnarine announced yesterday that the 13 players chosen by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) selectors have withdrawn from the match at Arnos Vale Playing Field in Kingstown, St Vincent, Trinidad Express reported today.
According to Ramnarine, the WICB have made attempts to assemble a replacement squad to face the Bangladeshis in the two-Test series opener. He added, however, that he has been informed by most of those players that they have declined the invitation.
The latest standoff in a long, tumultuous relationship between the Board and the players' representative body stems out of issues being negotiated by the parties since 2007.
WIPA claim that the WICB have once again reneged on verbal agreements stemming from those talks.
The biggest issue, Ramnarine declared, is that of previously agreed retainer contracts, which seem far away from being implemented by the WICB.
Ramnarine revealed that the cricketers have played their last five series without contracts and have only been paid for the tour to New Zealand, in December-January.
They are yet to receive money for the away tour to England in April-May, the ICC World Twenty20 tournament, and the recent India ODI series. There is also no contract for the impending Bangladesh series.
This, Ramnarine deems "highly unacceptable".
"The fact remains that the players have played their last four tournaments without a contract," the former T&T and West Indies off-spinner stated grimly. "...They are now being asked to play their fifth consecutive series without a contract, which is highly unacceptable.
"Professional sportsmen should not be allowed to play any sport that has such a high risk without the necessary protection," he stated.
Ramnarine added that when players in such a situation are injured and are unable to play, they are left to hope for the mercy of the Board.
The WIPA head indicated that he met with a WICB lawyer and industrial relations representative last week, only to find out that they had a "limited mandate", that is, they could not make any definitive decision on matters discussed.
Subsequent attempts to solicit a meeting over the last two days, Ramnarine alleged, have gone unanswered, leaving the players no choice but to withdraw from the first Test.
The last time the West Indies players took such action, ten of the original selected players, including then skipper Brian Lara, boycotted the 2005 tour of Sri Lanka. Shivnarine Chanderpaul was one of only three players of the chosen 13-man squad who toured the Asian island and was named captain, with replacement players being called up for a tour West Indies ultimately lost heavily.
The first major indication that the Bangladesh tour could be in trouble came on Saturday, when the players from last week's One-Day Series against India in St Lucia boycotted the launch of the 2010 ICC World Twenty20, to be held in the region next year. Only members of the West Indies management team made themselves available for the launch.
In addition to the retainer contracts and payment for the above mentioned tours, Ramnarine also listed the following issues still outstanding: injury payments for players with or without written contracts; unauthorised use of players IP and image rights; clothing contracts; and the arbitration matter pending since 2007, which includes breaches of the CBA and Memorandum of Understanding.
"Having considered the situation carefully and dispassionately," Ramnarine concluded, "and bearing in mind their own welfare, without ignoring the concern of other stakeholders, the players have requested me as president of WIPA, the players' body, to inform the WICB, sponsors and the public that, regretfully, they cannot--with immediate effect-- continue playing without any contracts with the WICB."
Ramnarine said that dialogue with the WICB, and an assurance that the Board will adhere to the terms agreed on the contract issues, are what it will take to ensure the players participation.
And, when asked whether he believes the WICB think the players should have a union, Ramnarine asserted candidly: "I am questioning whether they think they should have players."
The WICB have called a media conference today at the Oval, but it is unclear whether the matter of the players boycott will be discussed or resolved.
Article from: The Daily Star
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