Pay Accord Can't Be Rushed, Says WICB (6 November 1998)

6 November 1998

Pay Accord Can't Be Rushed, Says WICB

by Haydn Gill

Having publicly disclosed players' fees for the first time in its long history, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) will now sit down with the players' body to discuss a highly complicated pay structure proposed by the West Indies Players Association (WIPA).

The proposal was first put forward a couple days ago, according to WICB president Pat Rousseau, but there was little time to have to have it used for the imminent tour of South Africa as the players had hoped.

"You cannot introduce a new formula basis seven to 10 days before (a tour)," Rousseau said during Wednesday's press conference at which it was announced that Brian Lara and Carl Hooper were relieved of their positions of the tour of South Africa.

"Believe me, it is fairly complicated. I have seen it myself. We will fix a date to discuss that new formula."

Rousseau said the board's chief finance officer, Richard Jodhan, who heads the negotiating team, had already made an appointment with WIPA chief executive officer David Holford and secretary Roland Holder to further discuss the details in Barbados on November 18.

"It's not a matter that the team can deal with. You have to run models and do computations."

Future contracts were normally discussed two to three months ahead of a tour, the WICB boss pointed out.

"They are done by the executive staff of the WICB. They only come to the board if there is a dispute or a problem.

"Despite the talk of a dispute we have resolved them in the last two years and none of them has come to the board."

For years, there was a reluctance to make public the fees of players, but Rousseau felt the time had come to put an end to it.

"We gave out bands (payment scales) shortly after I became president and at this time we have given you the details," said the Jamaican who took over as WICB head in 1996.

"We have moved forward and given you the information. I can't tell you why it wasn't done in the past. I don't know. I wasn't there."

The figures, which were announced by Jodhan, showed an increase of between 17 and 20 per cent from the fees that were paid on the West Indies' last full tour of Australia two years ago.

Jodhan said the captain stood to collect a tour fee of around US$52,000, while an uncapped player who did not play a single Test or One-Day International would receive about US$19 100.

It was also pointed out that the WICB accepted a proposal from the WIPA for an increase of US$30,000, bringing the total fee package for the tour to about US$555,000. It was not yet determined how the increase would be allocated.

Those fees do not include sponsorship money, prize money, meal, transportation and laundry allowances. Meal allowance is believed to be about US$150 a day and the other two are about US$50 daily.

"The players have absolutely no expenses on tour," Rousseau said.

"The allowances cover everything. In fact, many of the players save money on allowances. Everything is paid for.

"The tour fee is net money and there is really no need for them to spend any of it on tour."

none $12,000
1-15 $16,625
16-30 $21,750
31-45 $24,600
46-60 $27,600
61 and more $29,550
captain $35,475

0-40 $7,000
41-90 $10,150
91-140 $11,480
141-190 $12,880
191 and more $13,790
captain $16,555

Note: Tour fees do not include sponsorship money, prize money, meal allowance and transportation allowance. (Source: WICB)

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)