Report: Ramphal to mediate dispute, WI players return
West Indies cricket players returned to work on Tuesday under an agreement that saw former Commonwealth Secretary General Sir Shridath Ramphal appointed mediator in their bitter pay dispute, according to an AP report.Players have been fighting the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) over pay but returned after the appointment of Ramphal at a meeting convened by Guyana's President, Bharrat Jagdeo, at the request of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA).
Jagdeo is the current chairman of the 15-nation Caribbean Community (Caricom)."It was agreed that, in light of the mediation agreement the parties expect to lead to the resolution of outstanding issues, all the players will make themselves available for selection," they said in a joint statement.
WIPA and WICB have also agreed to each nominate a facilitator to assist Ramphal in his work.
"The mediation team, with assistance from the Caricom secretariat, would begin work immediately," they said in the statement.
"Both parties have taken this step, mindful of the interest of their respective organisations but conscious also of their wider responsibility to the people of the West Indies and the international sport of cricket," the organisations added.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by WIPA President Dinanath Ramnarine and WICB President Dr. Julian Hunte in the presence of the Guyanese leader.
The news comes as the WICB announced that the replacements would continue to play in the ODI series against Bangladesh.
The following team was named for the ODIs:
- Floyd Reifer (Captain)
- Darren Sammy (Vice Captain)
- David Bernard
- Travis Dowlin
- Andre Fletcher
- Rawl Lewis
- Nikita Miller
- Nelon Pascal
- Kieran Powell
- Dale Richards
- Kemar Roach
- Devon Smith
- Devon Thomas (wkpr)
- Gavin Tonge