ICC to intervene in contracts row only if asked

The International Cricket Council has said that it would mediate in the ongoing player-contract crisis only if the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) decided that the ICC had a role to play in resolving the conflict. Earlier media reports had said that the WICB had refused the ICC's offer to help find a solution to the problem. Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, said in a media release: "Contrary to some reports, the WICB has not taken a view on if there is a role for the ICC."

Speed said that he and Roger Brathwaite, the WICB chief executive, had preliminary discussions on the status of the current issue and that he had offered to assist the WICB in whatever way possible. "I spoke with Roger last Saturday and indicated that if the WICB saw any role for the ICC that it would be willing to assist," Speed said. "Roger indicated that he would advise his board of the ICC's position and it would consider if the ICC has a role to play. I would stress that the ICC does not and will not become involved in any domestic issue such as this without the consent of the relevant board. It is a judgment that the WICB will make if it believes that the ICC can assist."

Cricinfo had earlier learnt from a source close to the situation that the WICB had turned down an offer to help. The source had said that the West Indies Players' Association had suggested the possibility of an ICC intervention with Richard Bevan and Tim May of FICA, the international players union. Dinanath Ramnarine, the WIPA president, also confirmed that he had asked for FICA's assistance in the matter, and reiterated his disappointment at the West Indies board turning down the offer for intervention.