Retainer system on for WI players

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) will, from October, establish a retainer system for West Indies players on a 12-month basis to coincide with their financial year end of September 2004.

After years of negotiation, the WICB have finally decided that they will implement this system which has already been adopted by other cricket nations. But there is one stumbling block and it may be the opposition of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA). “There is going to be discussion with the WIPA to ensure that all parties are agreeable to this idea of a retainer for our players to ensure that they stay fit and have peace of mind at all times, even when they are not playing cricket,” a source said on condition of anonymity. “At this time the WICB are looking at around twenty players for the initial group and are willing to do this at whatever cost because it will certainly assist the competitive life of our best players,” he added. It is understood that even though the current impasse between the WIPA and the WICB is still to be settled, all efforts are being made to bridge the gap quickly. Talks are due to start soon and while the WICB have decided on who will be their industrial relations representative in the discussions, the WIPA are still to name their negotiator.

“Some of the persons involved in this discussion have stated the WICB would not like to have a long drawn-out procedure over the international fees to players at the country level. But there is skepticism about the background of the players’ president (Dinanath Ramnarine) and the fact that he is from Petrotrin, and that he may engage the advice of well-known labour leader Errol McLeod of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union. But only time will tell,” the source noted. At the moment though it seems that the series between the West Indies and Australia will be spared any strike action as the Test fees are not up now for discussion.

The current structure of the West Indies team offers newcomers (before playing their first Test match) approximately US $3,000 per Test. Then from 1-20 Tests, $3,500 - $4,000; from 21 - 35 Tests $4,001 - $5,000;  From 36 - 50 Tests $5,001 - $6,000; From 51 - 65 Tests $6,001 - $7,000;  From 66 - 80 Tests $7,001 - $8,000; Over 80 Tests $8,001. The captain gets between $8,001 and $8,500. In the current 14-member West Indies team, there are three newcomers in David Bernard Jnr, Carlton Baugh and Devon Smith. In the next category from 1-20 Tests, there are Marlon Samuels, Vasbert Drakes, Jermaine Lawson, Pedro Collins and Daren Ganga. From 21 - 35 Tests, there are Meryvn Dillon and Wavell Hinds. Next in the category of 36-50 Tests is veteran wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs. From 51 - 65 Tests are Shivnarine Chanderpaul with 63 Tests who will soon be out of this group. With over 80 Tests is new West Indies captain Brian Lara. Vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, who did not play in Bourda because of injury; and Chris Gayle, not considered for the first two Tests, are both in the 21-35 Tests category.