16 Reinstated; CARICOM Takes Over
Sat, Nov 27, '04
Bennett King must be breathing a sigh of relief after a new round of talks between the WICB and the players' association ensured that a full-strength squad will be in Barbados for the pre-tour camp.
Following the intervention of CARICOM, the two sides agreed to have an independent adjudicator rule on the interpretation of a clause in a previous match/tour contract that would have a direct bearing on the disputed 'Clause 5' that is at the centre of the latest controversy.
The original 25-man squad will now head to camp without having to sign the invitation letters.
The adjudicator will be appointed by the CARICOM Prime Ministerial sub-committee on cricket and the ruling/interpretation is expected by December 10.
The WICB and WIPA will submit position papers and their own interpretations of the clause (1K) by Friday December 3, giving the adjudicator one week to issue a ruling.
The interpretation of Clause 1K of the previous contract would determine whether three players -- Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo -- were in breach of their contracts with the WICB when they inked private endorsement deals with Cable & Wireless.
The WICB is contending that those endorsement deals are invalid because the players did not get the board's explicit permission. But, WIPA is arguing that the previous match/tour contract does not require written permission.
Now, it goes to an adjudicator to interpret Clause 1K to determine whether the three players were in breach of their match/tour contracts. Captain Brian Lara also has an endorsement deal with C&W but his contract was approved by the WICB in 2002, long before Digicel came to the table.
CLAUSE 1K OF THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT READS:
- Not at any time after his selection and during the Tour undertake, participate or in endorse any advertising as a member of the Team without permission of the Board, such permission not be unreasonable withheld;