Arise Sir Clyde, Save Our Cricket

I am not at all sure that I have a solution to the current crisis facing West Indies cricket. But what I do know is that the West Indies Cricket Board?s (WICB) insistence that Clause 5 of their contract is non-negotiable, is unfortunate and reeks of the highest autocracy.

What do they expect Mssrs Lara, Sarwan, Gayle and Bravo to do? Give up their individual endorsements with TSTT and Cable and Wireless and run off to the WICB headquarters and play for Digicel?

Like most West Indians, I am happy to see Digicel invest the US $20 million which they have injected into the game here. And I am sure that they will obtain substantial benefits from this investment.

However, their association with the WICB has brought our cricket to a crisis and threatens its existence.

The majority of the 25 players selected to make themselves available for a camp that was expected to start next Monday, have not signed the WICB contracts.

What is to happen now? Will the Board simply dismiss those players and invite a fresh set of players? And will the Australians allow us to compete with Pakistan and themselves in Australia in the VB series without Lara, Sarwan, Bravo and Gayle?

I doubt it.

The WICB has not detailed its deal with Digicel so I am unable to get a clear indication of how the current players will benefit and to what extent. But from what I have read of Clause 5, it seems to me that any player signing the Board?s contract will be giving up his right to personally endorse another product.

In the absence of information to the contrary, I am of the view that the current individual contracts which the players have, were all negotiated prior to the WICB?s negotiations with Digicel.

If this is the case, then the Board cannot expect these players to simply give up these contracts without saying how they will be compensated.

And even if there is the possibility of a ?buy out? of these contracts, there is the moral aspect to deal with. One cannot endorse C&W on Monday and bat for Digicel on Tuesday.

As it stands, the WICB and WIPA must return to the crease and face the pace like big men. The interest of West Indies cricket is at the heart of this matter.

Without negotiations, cricket dead, full stop!

Desperately needed is a man of stature to umpire. Perhaps Sir Clyde Walcott, who not only distinguished himself as a West Indian player, but who also served as president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) could be the man to make a difference.

Invite Sir Clyde to be mediator and talk. In the meantime, let the players begin their camp. Whatever contracts are to be signed could be done while the camp is going on.

Let?s not put our cricket in a coffin. Return to the table now!

* Valentino Singh is sports editor of the Trinidad Guardian newspaper.