C&W release seven contracted cricketers

Cable and Wireless last night announced that they have released their contracted players from their obligations under personal endorsement contracts. In doing so the telecommunications giants also emphasised their full support of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) backed proposal for further review of their personal endorsement contracts by Caricom-appointed adjudicator, Justice Adrian Saunders. And in order to help relieve the time pressure for this review imposed by the start of the Second Test with South Africa, Cable and Wireless said they would release their contracted players from their obligations to the company until such time as Justice Saunders completes his adjudication and delivers his rulings.

This was communicated in a letter to the President of the WICB, Teddy Griffith and a copy was sent to Dinanath Ramnarine, president of the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA). Cable and Wireless has taken the decision to release the players from their obligations to the company so as to remove every obstacle to their immediate eligibility for selection to the West Indies team. The players are Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith, Fidel Edwards, Dwayne Bravo and Ravi Rampaul. Senior Vice President, Corporate Marketing, Rachelle Franklin said, “should Justice Saunders confirm our position that the contracts are indeed in the nature of individual endorsements and do not infringe on the rights of the team sponsor, Cable and Wireless will immediately be available to work with all parties to establish acceptable ‘rules of engagement.’”

In their letter to Griffith, the company indicated that they are also willing to adjust terms of the contracts if they are found to be problematic by Saunders. Moreover, if the adjudicator finds that the contracts are not in the nature of individual endorsements, Cable and Wireless will unconditionally release the players, if they so desire. Franklin also reiterated that Cable and Wireless have always been committed to finding a resolution to the issue through dialogue with all the stakeholders; and persisted with the matter not just to protect the company’s interest but to safeguard the rights of all West Indies players in the long term.

“We understand the incredible pressure that this situation has put upon our contracted players and their families, and remain committed to acting in their best interests. “Cable and Wireless have been and continues to be steadfast in their support of cricket in the West Indies and are committed to their role as a regional sponsor of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007,” Franklin added. “It is our fervent hope that these actions will facilitate the review and adjudication as well as the immediate reinstatement of the affected players, allowing the best team to play for the West Indies,” he said.