(Jamaica Observer) FORMER regional team captain Courtney Walsh said a more diplomatic approach should be taken in the handling of the “sad” impasse between players, the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said the West Indies were set to pull out of the tour of the Asian country immediately following yesterday’s fourth One-Day International (ODI) because of a dispute regarding a new payment structure.
One-Day captain Dwayne Bravo, acting as a representative for the elite players, has said the group is not happy with the earnings under the new arrangement between WIPA and the WICB.
Walsh expressed disappointment, that in his estimation, the relevant channels were not exhausted before that decision was made.
“I’m disappointed that it has gone the way it has gone. I would much prefer if there were some negotiations tried at first,” Walsh told the Jamaica Observer.
The iconic former fast bowler, who was speaking at the Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence at the Pegasus Hotel on Thursday night, said then that he had heard of the possibility of the strike.
“I heard that there may be a strike and that the team may be returning home. I don’t have the facts, but to me that would be another sad day for West Indies cricket.
“I don’t think you should have out dirty linen in public. It could have been handled a lot better. If efforts were made first and nothing happened, then you sort of take other measures, but if the first thing you want to do is strike, well, I don’t think it’s right,” Walsh said.
On the eve of the first ODI earlier this month, Bravo had warned that a strike or a pullout from the tour could not be ruled out.
But yesterday morning, the BCCI confirmed in a release that it had been informed of the West Indies’ decision to “cancel the rest of its ongoing tour to India because of a dispute with its players.”
The WICB, led by president Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron, issued a release of its own, saying “it has taken no decision to discontinue the ongoing tour to India”.
The tour schedule comprises a fifth ODI, a Twenty20 International and three Test matches. It is understood that India will now play five ODIs against Asian rivals Sri Lanka from November 1-15.
The stand-off has hinged on the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding recently agreed to by the players’ union.
Bravo said that players have been kept in the dark about the details. He argued that the new arrangement results in a steep reduction in their earnings. In a letter, Bravo asked for the resignation of WIPA President Wavell Hinds.
WIPA, in response, claimed that senior players were kept abreast of happenings. The players’ union explained that the current structure allows a wider group of regional players to acquire an improved living from cricket. Hinds added he has no plans of stepping down.
Walsh, recently appointed member of the WICB selection panel, said that while legendary captains of yesteryear oversaw challenges with the regional board, the time has passed when issues are handled by withdrawing services.
“We’ve all had issues with the board, from Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd and I was part of the team that had to strike…or didn’t leave England for various reasons. But we have gone past that stage and you want to give everything a try first. All of us want the players to be happy…but there is a right way and a wrong way of going about it,” Walsh insisted.
Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven, the president of the Jamaica Cricket Association and a WICB board director, agreed that negotiating between the affected parties is the way to go.
“Cricket belongs to the Caribbean people and we need to understand that and come together for the greater good of the game. All interested parties and concerned parties should come together in a frank, purposeful and meaningful way and we should be able to find a middle-of-the-road position,” Heaven said.
