Unpaid Players Go Back to 1980s

Some West Indies cricket cricket greats are still waiting for payments from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for monies promised to them since 1983, the Barbados Nation reported on Friday.

Among those waiting payment for retainer contracts signed more than 20 years ago include former captains Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards and legends like Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Joel Garner and Michael Holding.

According to the newspaper, the players and the then West Indies Cricket Board of Control agreed to three-year deals worth US$15,000.

It worked out to about US$45,000 for the period under contract but the players only received just under US$4,000 and nothing since. "They are now awaiting what's left," the paper added.

"Efforts have been made over the last 12 months to get information on the matter, but little has been forthcoming. The matter was lodged in court in 1989 but not much has been done on the issue," the Nation reported.

According to the WICB, the matter "has long been settled" but according to an ex-player in the waiting line, "Nothing has been settled; we never received the payments."