"Oh no, not again!", might have been the retort of some West Indian cricket fans, when they heard the news of the West Indian Cricket team strike, for the upcoming series against Bangladesh.
But unfortunately, it's deja vu again!
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) are at an impasse over unpaid monies to the West Indian players who toured England in April-June 2009.
(The WICB is the governing body for West Indies cricket, while WIPA is the union representing West Indian players).
The WICB has said that it has offered to pay the players, five (5) times their regular salaries...
But WIPA is claiming that:
1) It's more than just salaries that's at issue, it's the proper insurance coverage for players when they're injured.
2) It has no contract with the WICB for this upcoming series against Bangladesh.
Well, whatever the reasons, it seems that tomorrow's match against Bangladesh might be in jeopardy, unless the WICB and WIPA can iron out their differences.
(Bangladesh is in the Caribbean for its upcoming series against the West Indies. The tour schedule for Bangladesh vs West Indies can be found, here).
The interesting thing to note is that if the West Indian players forfeit the match, then the West Indies Cricket Board will have to compensate Bangladesh to the tune of US $2 million, as per International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket rules.
(The ICC is the governing Board for cricket, internationally).
Well, we hope that the WICB and WIPA can reach an amicable agreement, so that the WICB won't be fined that amount.
But one wonders why both parties can't seem to have a standard contract in place, that's suitable to both of them.
...Is it so hard for the WICB to be fair to WIPA and vice versa?
It's a real disgrace that for almost every other major tour, these two organizations seem to be at logger-heads over standard contracts.
But I blame the WICB...they have delayed implementing a Pay-by-Performance contract and their procrastination has been like a noose around their neck.
Players should never be paid five (5) times their standard salaries, unless their performance individually and as a team is excellent!
And the West Indies' results on their recent tour in England, was a downright disgrace!
[We lost the test series 0-2,the One Day Internationals 0-2 and just managed to make the semi-finals of the ICC twenty20 (20/20) tournament].
...with all sorts of excuses made about the weather impeding performance.
I think that it's now time for a new WICB to be established, with fresh ideas, guts and business savvy, who can negotiate in the best interest of West Indies cricket: the fans, the players, the sponsors and the West Indian governments, who by mandate, have to pump money into the management of West Indies Cricket.
Until then, we will forever be having this tug-of-war between the WICB and WIPA.
My humble suggestion - the WICB needs to include at least three (3) women, who are prudent, business and financially savvy, with guts, and who can get things done, on that Board!...
(Presently, there are no women on the WICB...just take a look at the names of all the Directors on the Board - all men!)
WICB...you need the balance of women on that Board, to help you to think straight!...
Your high testosterone levels (hence, huge egos), are interfering with effective decision-making!
Nuff said! (Jamaican, meaning, enough has been said :)).
(I would like to thank caribbeancricket for the use of their Flickr inset picture above, of the Windies Cricket team hailing their fans).
Sources Include
1) Article, "West Indies players threaten boycott", by Cricinfo staff -Cricinfo.com, July 8,2009
2) Power 106FM 5:00 p.m. news, July 7,2009
3) Nationwide Radio's Evening Programme - "Cover Story", July 7,2009
4) Television Jamaica News at 7:00 p.m., July 7,2009
