West Indies boycott Bangla series by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	D Ramnarine
Event:	Bangladesh in West Indies 2009

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DateLine: 8th July 2009

 

The West Indies players have withdrawn from the upcoming series against Bangladesh due to the ongoing contractual dispute.

 

The West Indies Players Association (WIPA) has been in a tussle with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for several months now over the players' contracts and the situation has reached a head with the month-long series scheduled to start on Thursday.

 

The Asian team is due to play two Tests, three one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match in the Caribbean.

 

But Thursday's first Test now looks in serious trouble considering the statement from WIPA president Dinanath Ramnarine.

 

Ramnarine in a press conference at the Queen's Park Oval, hit out at the WICB for their handling of players' retainer contracts. He has claimed the governing body has not delivered on their side of an agreement reached in 2007.

 

"The fact remains that the players have played their last four tournaments without a contract," he said.

 

"I repeat the players have played their last four series without a contract. They are now being asked to play their fifth consecutive series without a contract which is highly unacceptable.

 

"When a player called me last week and asked what was the position with regards to his injury while playing cricket for the West Indies in the just concluded Twenty20 World Cup, my response was that was there was no written contract in place and therefore any action that would have to be taken, would have to be taken in that context.

 

"Professional sportsmen should not be allowed to play any sport that has such a high risk without the necessary protection."

 

The WIPA and WICB met during the recent series against England where, the WIPA claim, agreement was reached on "a number of issues, some of which were outstanding since 2007".

 

On the of retainer contracts, the players association is claiming various match payments are outstanding and are in dispute over image rights.

 

"It is in this regard that WIPA met with the players in St Lucia on Saturday, July 4, for almost three hours.

 

"The decision was taken that if the WICB did not meet with WIPA to resolve outstanding issues, the players would not make themselves available to participate in the upcoming series against Bangladesh. We have written to the WICB to meet on Monday July 6 and Tuesday July 7, but unfortunately the WICB have not responded.

 

"Having considered the situation carefully and dispassionately, and bearing in mind their own welfare without ignoring the concern of other stakeholders, the players have requested me as President of WIPA, the players' body, to inform the WICB, sponsors and the public that, regretfully, they cannot with immediate effect continue playing without any contracts with the WICB," he added in his statement.