Dear Editor,
The bitter dispute between the WICB and WIPA, who represents the players, would have led to unresolved cricketing issues going to arbitration. This is an international practice for parties that cannot agree to amicable solutions. In this instance three prominent West Indian players, namely Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons and Narsingh Deonarine had their cases taken up and went to arbitration for reasons that would have excluded them from the WI team due to alleged attitude and fitness issues that were claimed by the WICB. In Sarwan’s case he stated that he was humiliated and his character tarnished by the claims made about his continued exclusion from the WI team.
It is public knowledge however that the trio has now won their cases and they are to be monetarily compensated by the WICB for loss of income.
It is the same humiliation that veteran West Indies star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul would have endured when WI Coach Otis Gibson would have publicly stated that Chanderpaul will no longer be considered for the shorter forms of the game following the completion of the 50 0vers World Cup that was played in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka earlier this year. Yet Chanderpaul was one of the few WI players that had credible performances following the completion of the tournament.
Of course such pronouncements came at the time when there was the famous falling out between the senior players and the Coach that led to the prolonged exile of Chris Gayle from the team until his recent reintegration. There was also the unusual but relevant rebuttal by Chanderpaul who publicly had said that he has not resigned from such formats and is available whenever he is called upon to serve WI cricket. He now continues to prove the WICB wrong about his ability by being an international recruit for 20/20 teams around the World including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka where he played a major role for his team on their way to the inaugural title. No doubt he will be back next year in Sri Lanka in coloured clothing. He was also in England where he was extensively involved in 20/20 and 50 overs matches.
He remains a true professional and his statistics in all formats of the game can stand scrutiny with the best in the world. I am alluding to the 27 runs in one over against Steve Harmison at the National Stadium, ten runs from two deliveries against Chaminda Vaas to seal a famous victory against Sri Lanka and his invention of the reverse sweep that he has configured so that he can also adjust his game when he needs to. Against such harsh judgment by the WICB, I believe that Chanderpaul was unceremoniously, deliberately and injuriously prevented from earning a living from the trade that he continues to excel in and therefore he has a case against the WICB for continuing loss of income while not excluding the denial of the joy that he brings to his devoted fans around the world.
Yours faithfully,
Elroy Stephney
