Dear Editor,
It was only a few days ago I wrote that West Indies cricket was in turmoil, but it seems yesterday’s move by the players before the commencement of the fourth ODI in Dharamsala not to continue to play until the financial issue is resolved forced the cancellation of the remainder of the tour.
This move angered the Indian cricket authorities which blamed both the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) as well as the players and their bargaining agent the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and hurriedly invited Sri Lanka to send a team to play a few ODI games both to regain some of the revenue and to satisfy the cricketing public in that subcontinent. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is furious and has issued a statement saying that “the withdrawal gives little thought to the future of the game, the players and the longstanding relations between the BCCI and the WICB”.
However three hours later the WICB released its own statement via Facebook denying the BCCI’s claim while the players are united in their stand contending that they were shabbily treated by the WICB and that WIPA President Wavell Hinds did not act in their interest and never consulted them before entering into the Memorandum of Understanding.
Former West Indies speedster Michael Holding, a world renowned commentator said yesterday that “I have never seen anything like this happen in the past and I do not understand.” In 2009 the WIPA and WICB were involved in a similar dispute when 13 players went on strike and missed a two-Test series. Thursday’s move by skipper Dwayne Bravo was even more daring because drastic action was taken in an overseas country in the midst of a series.
The big question now is can the financial dispute be resolved in time for the South African tour. Would there be animosity between the players and the WICB. Some critics feel that the players acted too rashly and placed emphasis on money rather than the sport. Some fans also feel that the cricketers should improve their performance before demanding more remuneration.
Meanwhile, the WICB should take full blame for not intervening in the dispute between the players and the President of WIPA. Cricket which is the main medium for West Indies unity is now in shambles and every effort should be made by all concerned even CARICOM to resolve the issue as expeditiously as possible.
Yours faithfully,
Oscar Ramjeet
