BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Regional players union boss Dinanath Ramnarine has hit back at comments by West Indies Cricket Board CEO Ernest Hilaire, as storm clouds continued to gather over next month’s start of the regional four-day tournament.
In a release issued late Tuesday, Ramnarine reiterated the West Indies Players Association’s objection to cutting the season in half, arguing that it left the West Indies playing the least amount of domestic cricket off all ICC full member countries. On Saturday, Hilaire launched a staunch defense of the WICB’s move to reduce the number of matches in the first class tournament from 14 rounds to seven. He contended the Board had taken this action based on its lack of finances. Ramnarine, however, said the Board had given no financial details on the matter to allow a proper evaluation.
“No financial details were given by the WICB to allow for a proper evaluation in terms of savings and immediate and medium-term development,” Ramnarine argued.
“Thus WIPA was deprived of the opportunity to explore and propose alternative models or to suggest a compromise position. It is always WIPA’s interest to have cricket played for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders.”
Ramnarine contended that key arms of the WICB played no role in the decision to cut the rounds in the championship, and challenged the Board to say who did.
“WIPA seriously questions the decision of the WICB to abandon the two round games in the regional tournament,” the WIPA chief executive and president said.
“It wonders about the inputs, if any, of the Cricket Committee, the Marketing Committee and Directors of the WICB themselves in this decision. WIPA’s understanding is that they played no role. Who then made the decision?” He continued: “Were all the avenues explored to secure sponsorship? The WICB has the exclusive right to secure sponsorship for their events but for the past two years there have been no sponsors for this tournament.
“Yet it appears that the WICB is going to spend far more with its proposal than to have hosted two rounds of matches and two development tours.”
Ramnarine said while WIPA had been aware of the intention to organise an A-team programme, they had no knowledge of any developmental tours.
Hilaire last week revealed the WICB was streamlining tours next year to Bangladesh along with hosting an ICC full member in November, sending an Under-23 team to an emerging players tournament and sending a developmental team to Canada.
“During its discussions with the WICB, WIPA was never provided with any strategic objectives or philosophical underpinning for reverting to one round apart from the cost factor which was tabled without details,” Ramnarine continued.
“WIPA became aware of an Under-23 tournament, an Academy team visiting India, a development team tour to Canada, and an A-Team programme for 2010/11 through the recent media statement by the WICB.
“While there was mention of an intention to pursue A-Team matches against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, there were no details of when and where these matches were going to take place.”
Due to the reduction in rounds, Ramnarine said regional players were now being placed at a serious disadvantage internationally.
“Our investigations have revealed that West Indies will now be playing the least amount of cricket of all ICC full member countries,” Ramnarine argued.
“The WICB prepared the West Indies team for the just concluded Test tour of Australia with four One Day games and will follow up with seven first class games and no Twenty20 Tournament for a one-day tour of Australia followed by the Home Series.
“There are other obstacles preventing the senior West Indies team from competing on a level playing field with cricketers from other ICC full member countries but lack of preparation should not be one.” The two bodies have engaged in a war of words over the last week after the WICB reduced the first class season to just even rounds and WIPA refused to sanction the move, arguing for a minimum of 12 rounds.
The season is set to bowl off on January 8.