The West Indies Players Association (WIPA) said yesterday it welcomed many crucial aspects of the ICC Independent Governance Review Report conducted by former Chief Justice of England and Wales Lord Woolf.
“WIPA commends the ICC for promptly releasing the report to the public and was very excited to peruse the document and its implications for the future of world cricket,” the association stated.
“WIPA specifically was pleased to see the recommendations regarding the composition of the ICC board as well as the recommendations regarding ethics issues,” it added.
The recommendations for the ICC to introduce independent directors and eventually by 2015 to have such independent directors as a majority of the ICC board are crucial to the proper management of world cricket, argues WIPA.
“In addition, the recommendation that all ICC Board members should separate themselves from positions on their member board is welcome and will ensure that Board members are representing the interests of world cricket on a whole, rather than narrow parochial interests,” the players’ association stated.
According to WIPA, the Woolf recommendations should be used in conjunction with the Patterson Report for the administration of West Indies cricket.
Currently, the WICB Articles of Association provides for a maximum of 4 non-member independent directors which is a small minority of the composition of the Board.
“The WICB should strongly consider moving in the direction of independent directors commanding a majority of the Board and should adopt the same 2015 timeline recommended for the ICC,” WIPA said.
Additionally, WIPA said it was pleased to see Lord Woolf recommend that the crucial executive committee be populated by only independent directors along with the Chairman and CEO and it would be prudent for the WICB to consider such changes.
On the matter of ethics, WIPA said it was pleased that there were recommendations regarding the declaration of conflicts of interest by board members as well as steps to ensure members do not place undue influence on other members to support certain interests.
The recommendations clarifying the policies regarding the ethics codes including
sanctions and applying them to all members’ boards are also welcome, said WIPA.
WIPA President and CEO Dinanath Ramnarine reflecting on the ethics recommendations said, “A lot of effort has rightfully been placed in battling anti-corruption by players. However, there is a perception that this same effort has not been geared towards battling corruption in the administration of cricket.
“Lord Woolf’s recommendations seek to right this and WIPA believes that enhanced ethics measures and enforcement will improve the administration of world and West Indies cricket.”
WIPA also said that it welcomes Lord Woolf’s recommendation that “an effective Internal Audit function” be implemented.
This recommendation is meant to cover the operations of the ICC and related ICC events, where reporting to the Chairman of the Audit Committee is required to act on behalf of the Independent Directors.
Currently, the WICB Audit and Finance committee is populated by two member directors, one of whom who is the chair and two other independent persons. WIPA urges the WICB to change the composition of the Audit and Finance Committee to only independent directors or other independent personnel in order to ensure transparency and prudent financial decisions in the best interest of West Indies cricket.
“WIPA calls on the WICB to fully endorse these recommendations at the ICC level and to adopt such recommendations for the governance of West Indies cricket. WIPA hopes that WICB President Dr. Julian Hunte will use his significant weight as Chairman of the ICC Governance Review Committee to lead the charge of change at the ICC and to act on Lord Woolf’s recommendations.
“WIPA encourages the West Indian cricketing public to read the report and to provide input in the public sphere as stakeholder support and pressure, for these recommendations are necessary for implementation to take place. WIPA will continue to analyze the report and provide our views on various matters within the report,” the association stated.
