EXCLUSIVE: Where Are Player Contracts?

Dear Mr. Gordon,

I write to convey my deep disappointment and concern that despite several public assurances on your part, and frequent reminders and enquiries from our side, the members of WIPA currently engaged in the Cricket series against India have yet to be issued with the relevant contracts.

In fact, this is the first time in my experience as President of WIPA that a situation has arisen where players have been engaged in a series without contracts. Our members have thereby exposed themselves and their careers to jeopardy, playing as they are without settled terms, with no formal agreement on remuneration and other conditions, and with no assurances over what is to happen, for example, in the event of injury or worse. I am sure that none of the ordinary employees of the WICB are in this situation. Certainly, the opposing team is not in this quandary.

You will recall that after the public announcement of the breakthrough in our negotiations it was agreed that Players will be engaged for the Zimbabwe tour on a Match Tour Contract, and that the Retainer Contract would be in place for selected players for the Indian series. The WICB has failed to honour this commitment. Indeed, it has failed to offer any contracts at all for the Indian tour.

Alarmingly, it has also failed to provide any explanation for this situation. It has, however, deluded the public and the cricketing world into thinking that a new dispensation had been put in place. The Players, for their part, have performed all their obligations, including those to the Board's Sponsor, as if a contract were in place. Naturally, they are disquieted and have reason to feel deluded and used.

The events described in this communication violate the letter and spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding and the Collective Bargaining Agreement which have been concluded and which await a formal signing ceremony. I will write separately about these and other matters, which are also issues that elicit grave disquiet on our part.

We are concerned that despite all the media hype, the WICB continues on its merry dilatory way, taking the Players for granted, putting them in untenable situations, and all the while, holding them to the highest expectations of performance. If the Board could match its expectations with its own performance, it would be better for all concerned.

I expect an urgent communication from you on these contractual matters.

Yours sincerely
Dinanath Ramnarine
President/CEO