WICB reject offer of mediation in cricket dispute

THE West Indies Cricket Board have rejected outright, an offer from the West Indies Players’ Association to reconvene a meeting to sort out the players match/tour contract issue for the forthcoming one-day series in  Australia. But WIPA president and CEO Dinanath Ramnarine said yesterday the majority of players have “withstood” this pressure and have not signed the current WICB contract on the table.

According to Ramnarine, the WICB agreed to the fundamental differences of principle between the two parties, but rejected out of hand the offer for a meeting with or without the assistance of a mediator. He said several members complained about the continued aggressive process of intimidating and pressurising players into signing match/tour contracts. What it all boils down to is that the WICB gave the players an ultimatum, if they fail to sign they would never again play for a West Indies team. Ramnarine said, however, the WICB admitted having contracted some players and promised they would desist from high-pressured tactics, when the matter was put before them at the start of a meeting here on Thursday last.

He said since the meeting, “what has transpired is that the territorial boards have taken up the same pattern and are now pressurising players to sign the contract or else.” The WIPA had demanded a reconvened meeting with the WICB within 48 hours after last Thursday’s 14-hour meeting which ended in nothing being resolved. WIPA are attempting to have the board discuss the signing of contracts with them before hand. A contingent of 25 players have been called up for a three-week camp under new coach Australian Bennett King  in Barbados scheduled to begin on November 29.