Bravo declined WICB ‘C’ retainer contract

Retainer contracts range from US$150,000 (A contract) to US$100,000 (C contract).

Bravo, 27-yearsold, was the second highest run scorer for the regional side on the recently concluded tour of Pakistan which the regional side lost 2-1. He compiled 273 runs at an average of 45.50 with one century (116) and a fifty.

Bravo has arguably been the most consistent West Indies Test batsman for several years and has shunned the lure of lucrative Twenty20 cricket to focus on the longest version of the game.

Earlier this year he was named on the Windies squad for the T20 World Cup but withdrew from the tournament.

He had said: “I’m very grateful and humbled for the opportunity to represent the West Indies at the World Cup. However, I’m of the firm belief that I have a very big part to play in the resurgence of West Indies cricket in the longer formats of the game and I will like the opportunity to play in our Professional Cricket League [the regional first-class tournament] because it will put me in good stead and will allow me to achieve those goals that I have aligned myself for the year 2016 and beyond.” Stunningly, Bravo was also named 2015- 2016 Test Player of the Year at the WICB/ WIPA Awards ceremony on July 19 in Antigua this year.

The WICB revealed that the contracts were based on performance from October 1, 2015 to September 2016.

Bravo did have a subpar series against India in August which the Windies lost 2-0 where he averaged 19.85 but has shown his class by bouncing back immediately.

Carol Beckford, Manager, Communications and Marketing, WICB, yesterday refused to reveal which players were in which brackets.

“No we wouldn’t give that information. If the players want to reveal their scales that’s fine but we don’t. We have supplied the ranges in the last press release and we thought that was sufficient,” she said.

Asked about the current lack of transparency given that the WICB in the past has released the breakdown of players in each retainer bracket she added: “I don’t think it’s important or necessary to give the scale. We have decided that we’re not giving the scale, that the range is sufficient.

You can assume, or you may (ask the player), if the players want to give what their salaries are specifically (that’s their choice).” Newsday understands only Barbadian opener Kraigg Brathwaite was give an ‘A’ contract with ODI and Test captain Jason Hodler in the ‘B’ bracket.

Bravo had been lumped with Barbadian Test newcomer Jomel Warrican, 19-year-old Antiguan Alzarri Joseph and the rest in the ‘C’ tier.