'Statement of Major Importance'

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) on Thursday issued a terse one-paragraph release announcing plans for president Teddy Griffith to deliver "a statement of major importance."

Griffith's speech is scheduled for Friday at 8:00 p.m EST and will be broadcast live on radio and television throughout the region. Sources say Griffith will announce several new sponsorship initiatives, including a high-profile deal with an international package shipping company.

The WICB president is also expected to shed light on the contract negotiations with the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA). The negotiations have been steeped in bitter controversy but there were indications late Thursday that a deal may be imminent.

The two sides are discussing retainer contracts, a collective labour agreement, a memorandum of understanding, a players' code of conduct and match/tour contracts.

Cable & Wireless, the telephone company that has endorsement deals with Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle and five other West Indies cricketers announced late Thursday a willingness to make several advertising concessions to avoid problems during the upcoming home series against South Africa and Pakistan.

Cable & Wireless promised to limit the number of players shown in advertisements either in print, radio or television, so as not to infer the company is a team sponsor.

Despite the positive signs, there were wild rumours floating around that the negotiations with WIPA had fallen apart and that the WICB would push to drop the Cable & Wireless contracted players from the side.