Mediator unhappy with slow progress
The mediator in the protracted dispute between the West Indies board and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) has expressed his disappointment at the slow progress in the first phase of negotiations
Cricinfo staff
10-Aug-2009
Still no sign of Chris Gayle and Co returning to the West Indies side • Getty Images
The mediator in the protracted dispute between the West Indies board and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) has expressed his disappointment at the slow progress in the first phase of negotiations.
Sridath Ramphal, the former Commonwealth secretary-general, who has been given the responsibility of brokering a deal in the stand-off over payments and contracts, had his first meeting with the two parties on July 27. He told CMC Sport on Sunday that he was disappointed "more agreement had not been reached during the first phase of
discussions" though he was happy that both sides "wished to continue" the mediation process.
Ramphal had earlier been optimistic that the dispute would be settled in August, but now feels the mediation process will extend beyond this month.
CARICOM, the Caribbean trading bloc, which appointed Ramphal after being approached by WIPA to intervene in the impasse, said 25 hours of "intense discussion" had taken place though a solution could not be reached.
Talks will resume on August 27 before which both parties will have formal written statements that will help find a way forward. "In the second phase, which begins immediately, the Parties will, in the light of the discussions, prepare written submissions with a view to exploring a comprehensive settlement based on the principle of partnership," CARICOM said in a press release.
"These submissions will be exchanged no later than 20 August and discussions on them will resume on 27 August and continue for as long as necessary between then and the end of the first week of September."
West Indies' leading players had boycotted last month's series against Bangladesh, forcing the WICB to field a weakened squad. Bangladesh swept both the Test and one-day series against opponents whom they had not beaten previously in either Tests or one-dayers.
In another jolt to the WICB , one of its constituent members, the Trindad & Tobago Cricket Board, had announced it would the stay away from the WICB's annual general meeting on Sunday in Antigua.