Cricket going into the villages

Ramnarine made his intention public during the First Citizens Bank/WIPA’s 2005 awards ceremony, which took place on Wednesday night at the Chaguaramas Hotel and Convention Centre.

“Using past and present players, we hope to inspire and identify the future players, those who will carry our banner into distant lands with distinction, discipline and defiance,” he pointed out.

“WIPA is committed to the glorious cause of restoring the pride in West Indies cricket and we invite everyone who can add value to this process to join us,” added 30-year-old Ramnarine.

The former national and West Indies leg-spinner also spoke about the recent tug-of-war between WIPA and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), which saw both parties sign a collective agreement that allows WIPA to be the exclusive bargaining unit for the players.

“This means that our players can focus on the game while WIPA and the WICB put our energies together to create and maintain an environment that unleashes the creativity and genius that is associated with the people of the Caribbean,” Ramnarine said.

Both parties also decided upon a Memorandum of Understanding, a Code of Conduct and retainer contracts.

“The true beneficiaries of these agreements are the fans and the game itself,” Ramnarine noted. “We will have an environment that encourages our players to be the best they can be. It will be one that will delight the fans and enhance and elevate the game of cricket to which we West Indians have added our unique personalities and style.”

Ramnarine also lauded the WI supporters for rallying behind the team through the good and bad times.

“You are our inspiration,” he revealed. “You carry the game in your emotions and your encouragement. We, in WIPA, know that cricket in the Caribbean is not a game. It is deeply embedded in our culture, in who we are as a people.”

Caption—

WI Players’ Association boss Dinananth Ramnarine speaks at the First Citizens/WIPA 2005 awards function on Wednesday at Chaguaramas.