WICB Must do Better

It is to the credit of the West Indies cricketers that they have not been creating the kind of noise that is normally associated with people who have worked hard but have not been rewarded for their efforts.

A story on Sunday reported that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) had not paid the players their match fees some of which were outstanding from as far back as the England tour of the West Indies in the early part of this year.

The unpaid money includes match fees for the third and fourth Tests during the tour of England in July/August; match fees for the ICC Champions Trophy tournament; sponsorship shares from Sandals Resorts and the LNM Group; and funds withheld from the players salaries to cover fines and disciplinary infractions.

Reports indicate that following Sundays story, the board was making arrangements for payments to be handed out today, 24 hours before a meeting between the board and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA).

The players are to be commended for demonstrating the patience and understanding that are not normally associated with such situations.

However, it is to be hoped that the boards decision to pay the players today is not an attempt to short-circuit discussions with WIPA since it is understood that there is still a discrepancy between the board and WIPA over other benefits which the players may have earned over the period of their wait.

The board has blamed cash-flow problems for the delay in compensating the players. However, one must be left to wonder if this is not a continuation of the mismanagement that has plagued the administration of the game here in the West Indies and allowed the team to plunge to the level it has reached in Test cricket.

One would have thought that following the success of the team in the ICC Champions Trophy where the West Indies beat South Africa, England and Pakistan on the way to being crown champions, the board would have moved swiftly to ensure that the players were paid.

But what has happened since continues to show the board as a disorganised bunch.

Not only have they not paid the players, but they have gone ahead and invited 25 players to sign contracts for possible selection on the team to go to Australia in December, without first getting the approval of the Players Association.

This, of course, has led to a standoff, as the players have all declined.

At tomorrow's meeting, this will again be discussed, as WIPA is of the belief that in its current state, the contract attempts to exploit the players.

The situation is most regrettable, since the success in the ICC Champions Trophy should have been the platform from which West Indies cricket could have seized the opportunity to move forward once more.

Unfortunately, this is not going to happen.

The current stand-off relegates West Indies cricket to another bacchanalian scenario from which no one can benefit.

Responsibilities like ensuring that people are paid for their services and working out contracts that are mutually agreeable should not be a basis for confrontation.

It is to be hoped that both the WICB and WIPA will leave Thursday's meeting with a clearer understanding of their respective responsibilities and, more importantly, live up to them in a professional and dignified manner.