WICB pressed over player's terms

In what could be termed a rebellion of the troups, the West Indies players, through their association -- West Indies Players Association (WIPA) -- have advised the West Indies Cricket Board Inc. (WICB), that they are unhappy with the allocation of the sponsorship dollars for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup.

Earlier today, the WICB announced that the Trinidad-based LNM Group through their local company, Caribbean Ispat, would be sponsoring the West Indies team to the ICC Cricket World Cup to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya next month.

Michael Hall Photo © CricInfo

The players are unhappy that they were not included in the negotiation of the sponsorship deal with LNM Group, and moreso, with the way in which those funds will be allocated. It is not clear if WIPA made such demands prior to the conclusion of the negotiations.

Michael Hall, Chief Cricket Operations Officer at the West Indies Cricket Board advised the assembled press, that the players were unhappy with the sharing agreement, and therefore have declined to attend the media access session.

Subsequently, the afternoon's practice session was cancelled. Both sides have been very tight-lipped about the situation and the top brass of the West Indies Cricket Board were expected to be consulted in an effort to bring about a speedy resolution to this impasse.

Hall was however, quick to point out that all the players have signed a participation agreement for the ICC Cricket World Cup, and that such agreements have been lodged with the ICC.

It is ironic that the WICB would find itself in such a situation ahead of the biggest competition of the sport. It was a matter of days prior to the start of the 1998/99 tour of South Africa that two players -- Brian Lara (then captain of the West Indies) and Carl Hooper (present captain of the West Indies) -- held the WICB and by extension the people of the Caribbean at ransom over contract details.

The WICB is expected to make a further statement on this matter shortly.