Exclusive: Text of Chris Gayle/WICB agreement
Wed, Mar 28, '12
Here is the full text of the "statement of resolution" between Chris Gayle and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) after mediation talks recently in St Vincent:
State of Resolution -- Chris Gayle Impasse
The West Indies Cricket Board and Mr. Christopher Gayle have brought closure to the impasse which has dogged their relationship for over a year and kept Mr Gayle out of the West Indies cricket team since April last year. The resolution of this dispute in West Indian cricket has come abut after a face-to-face meeting between WICB's President, Dr Julian Hunte, and Mr Gayle in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Both sides admit that their respective shortcomings contributed to the debilitating impasse and its prolonged nature, and resolved to bring it to an end, in a spirit of reconciliation and in recognition of the fact that West Indian cricket takes our regional community beyond the boundary for our people's upliftment and ennoblement. They agree that there are lessons to be learnt from this episode by all concerned, which ought to redound to the benefit of West Indies cricket.
They affirm that West Indies Cricket is bigger than everyone.
Accordingly, each side further agreed to make certain statements, declarations, and commitments.
For his part, Mr Gayle:
- Expressed his regret for making an earlier contentious statement which could have been interpreted, and was so interpreted in several responsible quarters, as bringing the Board and Management of West Indies cricket into disrepute.
- Reaffirmed his commitment of support to the players on the team and the team management, inclusive of his solemn pledge as a senior professional to be an exemplar to his fellow professionals, especially the younger ones.
- Declared an unwavering solidarity with the people of this region, including the WICB, in their quest to restore West Indian cricket to its former glory, a condition which in part touches upon, and reflects, a further ennoblement of our Caribbean civilization.
For its part, the WICB though its President:
- Reaffirmed its unequivocal commitment to serving the people of our region by striving for excellence in West Indian cricket and the advancing of the tried and tested values of our Caribbean civilization.
- Declared that the WICB's disciplinary process is outdated which undoubtedly contributed to the length of time that this impasse or dispute took to be resolved.
- Expressed its firm intention to review all existing arrangements or codes, within the context of its ICC obligations and the applicable law, touching and concerning a range of relevant issues including discipline and players' eligibility for selection, which review is to be done in concert with the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA).
- Accepted Mr Gayle's statement of regret as sincere; welcomed his reaffirmed commitment to West Indian cricket, the team and the management; and embraced him in his pledge to be an exemplar as a senior professional.
In light of all this, WICB and Mr Gayle agree that the way is now clear for his active return to West Indian crick subject to all necessary and formal arrangements.
Both the WICB and Mr Gayle hereby express profound thanks and gratitude to a number of persons who facilitated this satisfactory resolution, including Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer of Antigua and Barbuda, who is also Chairman of CARICOM's Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Cricket, Prime Minister Ralph E. Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Mr Michael Holding, and Mr Elson Crick of the Prime Minister's Office in St Vincent and the Grenadines, who is also a member of the WICB.
(Signed by Julian Hunte and Christopher Gayle)
