How Much is Digicel Really Paying?

What's the real value of Digicel's sponsorship deal with the West Indies Cricket Board? US$23 million? US$20 million? US$ 18.75 million? Or US$16.75 million?

The answer to that question remains a sticking point in the contract talks between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the players association and, although a tentative deal is in the works, WIPA is asking for a signed copy of the master sponsorship deal to help compute the players' cut.

The two sides have agreed in principle to a mediation and arbitration structure that will allow a full-strength side to tour Sri Lanka but WIPA says it cannot agree on the level of sponsorship fees until it can determine how much Digicel is paying to the WICB.

In a letter sent to the WICB on Wednesday, WIPA president Dinanath Ramnarine said the figures quoted in the board's latest offer are "very different from the unsigned copy of the contract that was given to us by you."

"It is also different from the figures used by the WICB's President, Mr.Teddy Griffith, in his address to the Caribbean people and it is also different from what is reported by the sponsor in the media," he added.

"In other words, the figures so far have changed from 23 million to 20 million to 18.75 million to now 16.75," Ramnarine said.

In WIPA's view, the board has deliberately reduced the net value of the deal as a negotiation tactic to cut down on the players' percentage.

"We are grateful for the unsigned copy which you have provided but we must still insist on sight of a signed copy," Ramnarine added. He said WIPA had requested a copy of the signed contract since July 2004 for exactly this reason.

Ramnarine said the conflicting information "makes it very difficult" for WIPA to agree to a percentage of the sponsorship available without knowing the exact value of the contract.

"We do, however, agree that in principle- with all the relevant information- a formula is probably an appropriate way forward with regard to this issue."

The WIPA president confirmed there was "substantial agreement on the way forward" and CaribbeanCricket.com understands that the full wording of an agreement that will see the controversial Clause 5 included in binding arbitration is the only hold up.

Once both sides sign off on binding arbitration of all issues (to be done through a process of professional mediation by a third party), WIPA is expected to give the original 13-man squad the go-ahead to sign the match/tour contract on offer.

The contract will include the WICB's amended Clause 5 while the arbitrator rules on whether it restricts the players' rights to individual private endorsements. The arbitrator will also rule on whether the player contracts with Cable & Wireless are strictly private in nature and does not pass off the player as a member of the West Indies team.

The arbitrator's ruling will be retroactive to this Sri Lanka match/tour contract.