West Indies Cricket Board Statement (5 November 1998)

5 November 1998

West Indies Cricket Board Statement

WICB Release

The following statement on the West Indian crisis was released by West Indies Cricket Board president Pat Rousseau in St John's, Antigua, on Tuesday (3 November) night:

"Events of the last few days have marked a very sad phase in West Indies cricket.

We have just concluded an extensive meeting with the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), which was attended on our side by all but one of the members of the West Indies Board and two representatives of WIPA, David Holford, CEO, and secretary Roland Holder.

I would like to detail the sequence of events before I announce the Board's decisions.

On September 24 the Board received a proposal from the WIPA which was a response to correspondence sent over 40 days before by our Chief Finance Officer on the contracts for the tour of South Africa.

This proposal outlined some long-term issues for a fee structures which we advised could not be dealt with within the short time-frame before the tour.

On October 27, we accepted a proposal from WIPA for an increase of US $ 30,000, bringing the total fee package for the tour to approximately US $ 555,000 as a one-off arrangement on condition that future negotiations should commence at least six months prior to any tours and be concluded no less than three months prior to the start of the tour The one-day fees had already been agreed.

In conversations with the CEO of the WIPA, David Holford, their agreement to this proposal was confirmed in the presence of three ot the WIBC executive staff. We therefore concluded that the matter was settled to the satisfaction of both parties.

But on October 30 we received correspondence from WIPA requesting a meeting in England to discuss "the one-off nature of the pre-agreement recently reached".

Other issues raised included partial economy class travel to Bangladesh, inadequate meal allowances to South Africa and a week-long camp in Johannesburg.

We were satisfied since the substantive issues of fees had been settled and the others had been resolved with the team management and the United Cricket Board of South Africa there was no need for an emergency meeting in England. We did offer, however, to meet the players in South Africa if this was still necessary.

The information was communicated to Messrs Lara and Hooper by letter from manager Clive Lloyd and they were instructed not to travel to London.

They were informed that if they left the team and travelled to London they would severely prejudice their involvement in West Indies cricket.

On Monday, November 2, we were informed by Mr Lloyd that despite having received the directive from him, Messrs Lara and Hooper had travelled to London.

We were also advised that seven other players who were en route to South Africa via London remained there although they were directed to travel on as per the agreed schedule. These players were: James Adams, Curtly Ambrose, Darren Ganga, Junior Murray, Dinanath Ramnarine, Franklyn Rose, Courtney Walsh.

The WICB then convened an emergency meeting in Antigua and invited Messrs Lara and Hooper to attend to discuss the impasse. These gentlemen did not attend. However, the WIPA CEO and secretary attended.

The information provided by WIPA indicated no dispute on fees for the tour of South Africa and no significant disclosures to explain the recent actions of the players.

After consultation with the players in London, WIPA presented a proposal from the players that they would only go to South Africa on condition that the board agreed to immunity from any disciplinary action and guaranteed a meeting to discuss future contracts and some other issues.

While we remained open to a meeting on matters pertaining to the current tour outside of the agreement, the Board did not accept the terms of this proposal.

Consequently, the WICB has made the following unanimous decisions:

We are now advising the players other than Brian Lara and Carl Hooper that arrangements will be made for them to travel to South Africa as early as tomorrow night, if possible, to join the rest of the West Indies team to begin the tour.

The West Indies Selection Committee have been instructed to convene a meeting at the earliest possible opportunity to choose a new captain and vice-captain for this tour and also to pick any additional players required.

The West Indies cricket Board is deeply saddened at having to make these decisions. We will, however, be making every effort to ensure that the tour proceeds smoothly. We have been in touch with the United Cricket Board of South Africa, who are prepared to proceed with the tour.

We are also making arrangements with a counsellor to join the team in South Africa to help them through this difficult period in West Indies cricket.

We urge the West Indies public to give their full support to the team at this trying time."

Source :: WICB