C&W appalled at ‘great injustice’

TELECOMMUNICATIONS giant Cable and Wireless yesterday described as “most regrettable” the decision by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to exclude several leading cricketers from the West Indies team for upcoming home series against South Africa and Pakistan. And the former major sponsor of the game in the region said they were “appalled at what appears to be a great injustice” to cricket fans and the players who are affected by the decision because of the stress they undoubtedly face.

In a statement issued yesterday, Cable and Wireless said they believed there was nothing in the individual agreements of the players contracted to them that would cause any conflict with the obligations that the players would be required to fulfil under the terms of any contract entered into by the board. On Friday night, West Indies Cricket Board president Teddy Griffith announced in a region-wide broadcast that the six players —  captain Brian Lara, Dwayne Bravo, Ravi Rampaul, Dwayne Smith, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle — would not be considered for selection on the team.

He said the decision was made because the players had failed to disclose to the WICB non-financial details of their personal endorsement contracts with Cable and Wireless. But yesterday Cable and Wireless denied this. “We are very surprised that Mr Griffith has claimed that Cable and Wireless refused to share the non-financial provisions of the individual contracts, when we did just that in January 2005,” the release stated. The company said that at that time, a copy of the entire contract without the “financials” and the players’ specific names was submitted to the Caricom Sub-Committee on Cricket, chaired by Prime Minister Keith Mitchell of Grenada.

Cable and Wireless further disclosed that well before the WICB had entered into a US $20 million five-year sponsorship deal with their competititors Digicel, Griffith was sent, at his request, a player contract excluing personal and financial details. “This was out of deference to his position and the long-standing relationship Cable and Wireless had with the WICB,” the release stated. “And according to Mr Griffith the reason he wanted sight of the contract was to ensure that in his negotiations with the impending team sponsors there would be no conflict with the players’ obligations to Cable and Wireless,” the release continued.

The company said on Friday night, it was the first time since the arbiter’s ruling last November, “albeit on a regional broadcast” that they were aware of the Board’s request for such specific documents. “However as the WICB are fully aware, these are private and personal endorsement contracts which we cannot legally share without the consent of the party to the contract,” Cable and Wireless stated. Cable and Wireless reiterated that they remain willing to work closely with the WICB, the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) and the series sponsor to build a sports sponsorship model that reflects international best practices.

‘Consequently in the best interest of West Indies cricket, Cable and Wireless fully intends to stand by its commitmentment which was made prior to Mr Griffith’s unfortunate statement, to attend a meeting called by Prime Minister Mitchell for Monday, March 7,” the company stated. “Although Cable and Wireless is not the series sponsor, our company is the regional telecoms of Cricket World Cup 2007 and we believe it is imperative that all parties involved work through this issue to ensure a smooth run-up to, and the success of the Cricket World Cup 2007 — the biggest event to be staged in the region,” the statement emphasised. “The decision by Cable and Wireless to make this substantial investment as a sponsor of the World Cup is part of our company’s long term goal in contributing to the continued development of cricket in the region for the benefit of both fans and players,” Cable and Wireless stated.