Digicel contract traps WI top guns

Several West Indian players will be placed in a tricky position because of the new sponsorship agreement contract between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Digicel Limited. The new contract means that all players on the West Indies team will have to wear the logo of the  Irish-based telecommunications provider when they are on duty for the region. However the problem is that several of the West Indian players have contracts with Cable and Wireless and will therefore be under obligation to them, as part of their agreement. A source at the WICB told Newsday that among the players who will be affected by this are West Indies captain Brian Lara, and his vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan. It is understood that both players may encounter some difficulty in promoting Cable and Wireless while Digicel steps in as the major sponsor of the Caribbean cricketers.

“In fact, the West Indies players will all be required to fully represent the new sponsors Digicel in on-field and off-field activities,” he added. Digicel is the leading mobile service provider in the Caribbean. It was recently announced that they had secured the sponsorship of the West Indies cricket team. The multi-million dollar (US) deal with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), is initially for five years with an option to renew.  It will officially come into operation for the tour to Australia early next year. The deal with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) was signed by Digicel Chairman, Denis O’Brien at a ceremony in London, England on Monday attended by President of the WICB, Teddy Griffith and WI captain Brian Lara. Digicel will become the official sponsor of the West Indies Test and ODI (One-Day International) teams, Event Sponsors for the home Tests and ODI series, and the official mobile and communications provider of the WICB.

Digicel’s new sponsorship deal will help the company promote their mobile business across the Caribbean. “There is a feeling that the West Indies Players Association need to be involved because these contracts with Cable and Wireless are the players’ personal business, and not that of the West Indies Board. And while the players have no choice when they are playing for the West Indies, they have to make other decisions regarding sponsorship outside of representing the region,” the WICB source said. “The problem will crop up when the West Indian team has to be involved in Digicel promotions, and the guys under contract with Cable and Wireless are asked to be involved,” he said. “The fact is that Cable and Wireless have the big names —  Lara and Sarwan —  and Digicel will certainly want them in all of their advertisements,” said the source. Lara, double world record-holder — most runs in an innings in Test and First Class cricket — reportedly signed a lucrative contract with Cable and Wireless last year.