WIPA: Players reveal all details

IN ANOTHER attempt to hasten the return of the seven Cable and Wireless sponsored players, the West Indies Players Association say they have been successful in getting these players to waive the confidentiality clauses in their contracts so that the West Indies Cricket Board can begin its scrutiny of these documents.

The WICB had indicated after their weekend meeting that the seven players, including West Indies captain Brian Lara, would remain outside of consideration for selection for the upcoming tours until their legal team had inspected their contracts. This, according to a WICB statement, would begin “once the Board has received in writing a waiver from each of the affected players so that the Board is not involuntarily in breach of any confidentiality clauses in those contracts.”

While voicing their disappointment over this move by the Board in a release yesterday, WIPA said that in the interests of “furthering a resolution,” they have “procured the agreement of the seven players with Cable and Wireless contracts, to waive the relevant confidentiality clauses.” The statement, signed by WIPA President and Chief Executive Officer, Dinanath Ramnarine, said this course of action would meet the WICB’s newest requirements.
 
“WIPA have communicated this to the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee and in the event that the Board attempt to impose new conditions, WIPA have communicated further the players’ assurance that they will not under their individual sponsorship contract, perform any obligation as a member of the West Indies team,” the release stated. WIPA, who have been at loggerheads with the WICB over several players issues, criticised the Board over the move to request waivers from individual players, terming it an “additional stipulation.” “WIPA have further noted that the WICB now impose an additional stipulation, namely that players must waive the confidentiality clauses in their individual personal contracts to permit scrutiny of these contracts,” the statement said.
 
“WIPA are disappointed at the Board’s response and recalls that following the adjudication by Justice Saunders, it was clearly established that players have the right to engage in personal contracts.” Lara, along with top batsmen Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle, remain out of contention for places in the Windies team, after the intervention by Caricom’s Prime Ministerial Sub-committee on cricket, failed to find a solution to the present sponsorship row between Cable & Wireless and Digicel.