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A rock, a hard place and the WICB

by Tony Crozier

Through the clouds of confusion that enveloped the West Indies players' final decision to abandon their tour of India after the fourth ODI on Friday, a few relevant points are apparent.

First and foremost, as the WICB, the leadership of the WIPA and Dwayne Bravo and his aggrieved team in India carried on their angry, long-range war in cyberspace over the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding/Collective Bargaining Agreement (MoU/CBA), all three clearly failed to appreciate the damaging consequences such a drastic decision was bound to have on them all. 

West Indies’ Test future in doubt as crisis hits international cricket

International cricket has been plunged into crisis by a row over pay between the West Indies players and their board that has led to the abrupt termination of their tour of India. There are now doubts over the West Indies team’s next series in South Africa, their participation in the World Cup early next year, and even their future in Test cricket – which would have a direct impact on England, who are due to play a three‑match series in the Caribbean next spring.

theguardian

BCCI's damages bill to West Indies may touch $65m

The BCCI is likely to claim damages of at least Rs 400 crore (US$65 million approx) from the WICB for West Indies having pulled out of the tour to India. The BCCI's working committee will decide whether to go ahead with the claim at a meeting on October 21 in Hyderabad.

West Indies had agreed to play five ODIs, a Twenty20 and three Tests in India, but pulled out after the fourth ODI, in Dharamsala, due to the players being displeased over a revision to their payment structure. This meant that the BCCI lost out on revenue for 17 match-days. Though Sri Lanka agreed to fill in for West Indies and play five ODIs in India in November, the BCCI will still lose income for 12 match-days for the 2014-15 season. The BCCI is likely to claim those damages from the WICB.

ESPNcricinfo

BCCI considering cutting ties with WICB

The impasse between the West Indies players and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) not only resulted in a curtailed tour of India, but has meant the Caribbean cricketers and administrators are likely to face the ire of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who will have to suffer the losses from a shortened tour.

“We have suffered huge losses due to the decision of the West Indies to pull out of the tour,” Sanjay Patel, the BCCI secretary, was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India on Saturday (October 1. “We are going to claim all the damages and pursue the matter with ICC. We have convened an emergent working committee meeting to discuss the issue as well as the visit, at short notice, by Sri Lanka.”

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

With all the mess and embarrassment heaped on their Hosts,West Indies cricket and the Board will be saved from themselves by who else ? India.
India has been preserving the West Indies in more ways than one for a long time and although sanctions should rightly be applied in some form for this aborted tour, India will do what's best for West Indies.The relationshhip has been that strong since the time of the Four, England,Australia ,South Africa and New Zealand vs the Two, West Indies and India in the old dispensation.
India as benefactors in the new scheme of the ICC will take care of their hapless friends even in the role of a bailiff.
Sad as it is,'This too shall pass'.

In reply to hubert

And while it passes, West Indies cricket continues to decline in the Caribbean....

in the meantime, the young fans turn to CPL T20 cricket.

The WICB simply needs to pass the bill to WIPA. The WICB are not at fault here. If this goes down the path of litigation WIPA will be saddled with a hefty bill.

In reply to mikesiva
That's the way it is.
Where stupidity exists, who is King ?

In reply to smuggler

The WICB, not WIPA signed bilateral agreement with India(BCCI) as Peer to Peer partners in the ICC. The WICB is the one to face sanctions ,if any, by the ICC. Not WIPA.
WICB is responsible for In House matters of cricket in the region. Not WIPA.

WICB and WIPA can fight their battles in or out of Court. That is the West Indian way.Hopefully right will triumph and good sense prevails going forward.

In reply to hubert

Very true but like wise WIPA will be held responsible to the WICB since they have a signed CBA/MOU. WICB can attempt to recover the full amount of their ICC/BCCI fine from WIPA

Who is Tony Crozier?

What a week

In reply to smuggler

True.
BUT.. on this matter of MOU/Collective Bargaining , UNLESS the bylaws and or constitution of WIPA
empowers Wavell Hinds or any CEO to bargain,agree and RATIFY without players' consent,then that document is moot.
The operative word here is RATIFY.
I know things are very much diffferent in the Caribbean than where I live, USA. But as an old Shop Steward who represented Editorial Journalists at JA Daily News and also workers in the Garment Industry in Brooklyn/Manhattan, I was madated to bargain and reach agreement with Management but could not RATIFY said agreement.This rested solely in the domain of the Workers.

But regardless of all that transpired, the RESPONSIBILIY for cricket lies with the WICB and to have its IN-HOUSE crap laid in your Hosts' country is one of the saddest chapters in the annals of the game in the 'West Indies'.

This matter should have been dealt with alacrity even a compromise to prevent an aborted Tour.
And subsequently let all the syte hit the fan when you return home.
For India's cricket officials having to plead to WI cricketers and interfere in WI domestic problems is a No No.
As hosts the only thing they had to do was to point the WICB/WIPA folks to the toilet/outhouse;not to flush their waste for them.

It is so sickening an episode of ineptitude on the part of the WICB/Cameron that I am amazed.
It is the Board that always holds the handle and others the blade.
Cameron dropped the knife. Or maybe it was Pybus who does not realize that the Product, cricket, is theirs and that one should never insult one's host.
And why was no one in WI Board's upper echelon in India ? Everyone else it seems were in Asia.

I think many here are underestimating the capacity of the BCCI and it's assorted comedians to exaggerate, hold forth loudly, make grandiose statements, etc.

IMO, in a while BCCI will calm down, we'll all be best friends, a compromise would be found, it's all well with the world, etc etc.

It's the WIPA versus WICB catfight that'll be driving the headlines...

In reply to Verstehen


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