WI T20 team agree to play World Cup; silent on WICB allegations on fees

West Indies T20 cricket captain Darren Sammy has said his team will play at the India 2016 T20 World Cup in a fifth letter between the regional team and West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) CEO Michael Muirhead, which was leaked by I95.5 FM journalist Andre Baptiste.

Sammy had initially baulked at match fees offered by the WICB, which supposedly  represented a drop in earnings of roughly 75 percent since the last World Cup.

However, as the WICB stood its ground and insisted the players knew about the proposed fees since May 2015, Sammy said the squad will play in India, although he did urge the board to send their matter to mediation.

“I want to state on behalf of the players that we want to play and will represent the West Indies to the best of our abilities,” stated Sammy. “The embarrassment and fiasco of the Indian Tour which was called off by the Board must not be allowed to happen…

“Notwithstanding the above, we ask that you consider our request to double the match fees, share 50% of sponsorship fees and award 100% of prize money to the players.

“If you don’t agree to the above, would you consider that this matter goes to mediation for a settlement.”

Thus far, Muirhead has refused to renegotiate fees with the players. And, even as Sammy pleaded with the board to be “reasonable”, he slammed the WICB directors for their “arrogance and high-handedness” and reiterated his distrust in their union, West Indies Players Association (WIPA).

“It is the arrogance and high-handedness of the Board which cause these problems,” stated Sammy. “You cannot continue (to) force players to be represented by a body that they are not members of and do not want to represent them. You cannot continue to be unfair and unreasonable.

“Issues like this will continue to plague West Indies cricket unless you have an MOU and arrangements for non-WIPA players are fair and just.

“We are aware that, win or lose, this may well be the last tournament for most of us as reprisals will set in but we will speak out for what is fair. We are players and we know that unless radical changes take place, players will always have the grievance of which we complain.”

Sammy did not respond to WICB claims that all international players were informed of their remuneration packages last May while nine current T20 players were party to a retreat by the board that same month.

The following releases are Darren Sammy’s third letter to the WICB and the board’s release, which claimed the players were informed about their match fees nine months ago:

(From Darren Sammy to WICB CEO Michael Muirhead)

Dear Sir,

As captain of the WT20 team, I wish that we can settle this matter and focus on preparations for the tournament.

I want to state on behalf of the players that we want to play and will represent the West Indies to the best of our abilities.

The embarrassment and fiasco of the Indian Tour which was called off by the Board must not be allowed to happen. However, it is the arrogance and high-handedness of the Board which cause these problems.

You cannot continue (to) force players to be represented by a body that they are not members of and do not want to represent them. You cannot continue to be unfair and unreasonable.

Issues like this will continue to plague West Indies cricket unless you have an MOU and arrangements for non-WIPA players are fair and just.

We are aware that, win or lose, this may well be the last tournament for most of us as reprisals will set in but we will speak out for what is fair. We are players and we know that unless radical changes take place, players will always have the grievance of which we complain.

We simply find it bizarre that the Board does not know how much it will receive from the ICC for the tournament! How you receive the value may be spread over time but you surely should know what the income is.

Notwithstanding the above, we ask that you consider our request to double the match fees, share 50% of sponsorship fees and award 100% of prize money to the players.

If you don’t agree to the above, would you consider that this matter goes to mediation for a settlement.

We believe that the above options are fair and reasonable. We have compromised on our earlier request that original formula be used.

We trust that the Board will also be willing to compromise.

Regards.

(WICB release on match fees agreement)

The following is a summary of what has taken place since the premature ending of the West Indies tour of India in October 2014 and the steps taken to ensure players receive the best available remuneration package.

October 2014: Abandoned tour of India

October 2014: Meeting with Prime Ministers Dr the Hon Ralph Gonsalves, Dr the Rt Hon Keith Mitchell; WICB president and vice president: Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron and Emmanuel Nanthan; Players: Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin; Board Director: Baldath Mahabir (who has since resigned); Attorneys-at-law: Luke Hamil-Smith and Ralph Thorne, WIPA President: Wavell Hinds

Discussion: to agree a process of resolution regarding the pay issues surrounding the abandonment of the India tour

It was agreed that the issue be put to arbitration/mediation

·       WIPA would represent all players with regards to all categories of remuneration

·       The agreements for player compensation whether they were a part of a West Indies team at an international level/franchise team at first-class level

May 2015: Mediation/Arbitration – Jamaica

Present were members from

·       FICA (umbrella body for all players” associations worldwide) – Ian Smith

·       ICC – Iain Higgins

·       Former PWC senior partner, Brian Young

·       WIPA and WICB representatives

Result: Comprehensive review of the existing MOU/CBA with WIPA and the players; a review of the comprehensive package incorporating as an agreement appended to the MOU; a letter to all players signifying the resultant effect for all players

May 2015 Retreat in Barbados

This retreat sought to achieve a number of objectives

1.     Clarify the process of communication

2.     Clarify all roles and responsibilities

3.     Commit to the way forward

4.     Together discover a vision for WI Cricket

·       Understand the importance of WI cricket as a tool for social and economic transformation

o   Present were:

o   The members of the Test squad for Australia of which Denesh Ramdin, Jason Holder, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor attended – they are members of the current World T20 squad; other players present were: Darren Bravo, Jermaine Blackwood, Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach, Kraigg Brathwaite, Carlos Brathwaite, Shai Hope, Shane Dorwich, Veerasammy Permaul

o   Franchise Captains

o   Franchise CEOs

o   Management and Staff of the WICB

o   Selectors

o   Board of Directors

Result

·       The West Indies Compensation Structure 2014 – 2018

o   The report outlined

§  Player retainers

§  Match Fees

§  Incentive Payments

§  ICC Events

§  Provident Fund

§  Per Diem/Meal Allowances

§  Injury Payments

§  Additional Cricket

All international players were communicated to by the Secretariat. All territorial boards and franchises were sent the information to be disseminated to all first class players.

All those conditions were adhered to for:

·       Home tours – England (May 2015) & Australia (June 2015)

·       Away tours – Sri Lanka (October – November), Australia (December 2015 – January 2016)

February 8, 2016 Letter from T20 Captain querying a number of issues on the agreed remuneration package which was sent from May 2015.

The WICB has since been in dialogue with the captain and the rest of the squad. The selected players all have contracts and they are due to be signed by Sunday, February 14.

The ICC Twenty20 World Cup is due from March 8 to April 3 in India.

Courtesy WICB