Windies cricket talks break down

Unconfirmed media reports indicate that negotiators for both sides failed to reach a resolution to the impasse by the deadline of Thursday at noon set by new WICB President Ken Gordon.

The hotly disputed clause five of the contracts that deals with players’ image rights was again the sticking point.

Gordon had expressed his disappointment that no resolution seemed in sight to the long-running battle between the two parties and had disclosed the deadline on Wednesday, when speaking to the Barbados Chamber of Commerce.

The deadlock, however, is not likely to prevent West Indies from sending their best team to Australia for a three-Test series in November, since all players are likely to make themselves available for selection.

Gordon had indicated that the WICB may consider bringing the International Cricket Council into the negotiations if they failed, and WIPA is also hoping that they would agree to the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association being part of the process.

On Thursday WICB president Ken Gordon expressed the view that the regional team can win the coming 2007 World Cup to be held here in the Caribbean.

At a "Meet and Greet" session organised by the Local Organising Committee for the 2007 World Cup at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, Gordon said he felt the West Indies had the talent to win the cup for a third time.

He added that the team has two openers with a huge appetite for runs and a number of players who are capable of leading the team to victory.

The regional stars showed this inclination with Trinidadian Daren Ganga and Guyanese Ramnaresh Sarwan both posting centuries in a trial match in Barbados.

Gordon said the top Caribbean players must be given retainer contracts if the team is to be a success. He said the board will need money if this is to happen which would be a problem.

He said it would mean finding a solution to the players’ contract agreement between the board and the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA).

Gordon hinted that with the breakdown in talks to settle the dispute with the Players’ Association a mediator from the International Cricket Council (ICC) will be called in.

He said the underlining factor is that the region must select the best team to represent the region in the upcoming Australia tour and at the World Cup.