Windies WC Players Still Without Contracts
Thu, Mar 15, '07
by RYAN PATRICK
More than a month after a team of arbitrators gave a binding ruling that settled the dispute between the WICB and WIPA, West Indies cricketers playing in the World Cup are still without contracts.
According to information reacting CaribbeanCricket.com, the WICB has not yet provided the players with contract terms settled by a high-powered tribunal that included Barbados chief justice Sir David Simmons, Queen's Counsel Elliott Mottley and human resources management specialist Aubrey Armstrong.
The arbiters were called in after WIPA and the WICB could not agree on how to split the $11 million that is paid to the WICB for appearing in the tournament. The high-powered panel ruled on a 75%-25% split that included a provision for 3% of WIPA's take to be shared with first class cricketers who played in the Carib Beer/KFC Cup competitions.
Both WICB and WIPA had agreed, prior to the commencement of the arbitration proceedings, to accept its decision as binding under the laws of Barbados.
Yet, more than a month later, the WICB has still not inserted the figures into the contracts and given them to the players.
"The players are very upset," said a source in Jamaica. "They went to camp, played in warm-up games. They went to the Opening Ceremony, played the opening game, wore all the sponsors' logos, even without contracts."
"We are the only team in the World Cup without something as basic as a contract," the source added.
Several attempts to contact the WICB for a comment today were unsuccessful.
