War still rages over WI cricket

THE two telecommunications rivals at the centre of the ongoing dispute in West Indies’ cricket aren’t letting up. In response to revelations that Digicel are requesting the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to deliver an unencumbered team of players and officials by June 30, Cable and Wireless (C&W) said they had no intentions of releasing the seven players with whom they hold personal endorsement contracts. Meanwhile, Digicel are not interested in CL Financial’s offer to buy out their five-year US$20 million contract with the WICB. These are the latest updates in the evolving crisis that has been highlighted by the non-selection of the seven C&W players for the opening Digicel Test against South Africa, starting on Thursday  in Guyana.

In an interview, C&W’s senior vice-president for corporate marketing for the Caribbean Region,  Rachelle Franklin, said the release of the players  was not being considered  at the moment. “Anything is an option and anything is possible, but it is not an option we are looking to pursue,” Franklin said. “If we release the players, then we have significantly undermined the value of what is a long-term and significant investment in the World Cup because those players were the ‘activation’ arm of that sponsorship.” Extracts of the deal between the WICB and Digicel, revealed that the WICB should use their best endeavours to ensure and procure that, by June 30, 2005, none of the players or team officials is a party or subject to any contract or arrangement for the provision of promotional, marketing or advertising services.

“The revealing of some terms of the Digicel and WICB contract really unveiled what is at the heart of the issue and that there is a contract that the WICB really  can’t deliver on and a contract that came into play after we did all of our players’ sponsorships,” Franklin said. “It sheds new light on the situation and it brings to the forefront what  the crux of this impasse  is all about.” After ending their 18-year association as sponsors of West Indies cricket last year, C&W extended an existing contract with Brian Lara and entered into personal deals with six other players last  May, two months before Digicel and the WICB signed their contract.

While expressing disappointment that the WICB have ruled that the C&W contracted players still remain ineligible for selection in spite of a recommendation from the Caricom Prime Ministerial sub-committee that they be reinstated, C&W are committed to resolving the impasse. To this end, they are willing to accept some  of the recommendations from the Dr Keith Mitchell-led committee. “We fundamentally believe, as Justice Suanders had ruled,  that these contracts are not in conflict with the master contract and they can live side by side,” Franklin said. “If all the parties involved believe that to  be true, then I think  we can come to a  quick resolution.”

In response to CL Financial’s offer, Digicel have advised the regional company that they are  committed to continuing their sponsorship of the game in the Caribbean. “Digicel have spoken with CL Financial and communicated to them that, as title sponsors of the team, Digicel have always been and remains committed to providing the necessary resources to help grow West Indies cricket to its true potential so players and fans can enjoy its benefits,” Digicel corporate communications manager Maureen Rabbitt said in a release on Saturday. “Digicel were happy  to explore with CL Financial other avenues of support for the company to further develop the growth of West Indies cricket and preserve the integrity of the game.”