The following is a summary of what has taken place since the premature ending of the West Indies tour of India in October 2014 and the steps taken to ensure players receive the best available remuneration package.
October 2014 Abandoned tour of India
October 2014 Meeting with Prime Ministers Dr the Hon Ralph Gonsalves, Dr the Rt Hon Keith Mitchell; President and Vice President – Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron & Emmanuel Nanthan; Players – Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin; Board Director – Baldath Mahabir (who has since resigned); Attorneys-at-law- Luke Hamil-Smith and Ralph Thorne, WIPA President – Wavell Hinds
Discussion: to agree a process of resolution regarding the pay issues surrounding the abandonment of the India tour
It was agreed that the issue be put to arbitration/mediation
- WIPA would represent all players with regards to all categories of remuneration
- The agreements for player compensation whether they were a part of a West Indies team at an international level/franchise team at first-class level
May 2015 Mediation/Arbitration – Jamaica
Present were members from
- FICA (umbrella body for all players” associations worldwide) – Ian Smith
- ICC – Iain Higgins
- Former PWC senior partner, Brian Young
- WIPA and WICB representatives
Result: Comprehensive review of the existing MOU/CBA with WIPA and the players; a review of the comprehensive package incorporating as an agreement appended to the MOU; a letter to all players signifying the resultant effect for all players
May 2015 Retreat in Barbados
This retreat sought to achieve a number of objectives
- Clarify the process of communication
- Clarify all roles and responsibilities
- Commit to the way forward
- Together discover a vision for WI Cricket
- Understand the importance of WI cricket as a tool for social and economic transformation
- Present were
- The members of the Test squad for Australia of which Denesh Ramdin, Jason Holder, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor attended – they are members of the current World T20 squad; other players present were: Darren Bravo, Jermaine Blackwood, Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach, Kraigg Brathwaite, Carlos Brathwaite, Shai Hope, Shane Dorwich, Veerasammy Permaul
- Franchise Captains
- Franchise CEOs
- Management and Staff of the WICB
- Selectors
- Board of Directors
Result
- The West Indies Compensation Structure 2014 – 2018
- The report outlined
- Player retainers
- Match Fees
- Incentive Payments
- ICC Events
- Provident Fund
- Per Diem/Meal Allowances
- Injury Payments
- Additional Cricket
- The report outlined
All international players were communicated to by the Secretariat. All territorial boards and franchises were sent the information to be disseminated to all first class players.
All those conditions were adhered to for:
- Home tours – England (May 2015) & Australia (June 2015)
- Away tours – Sri Lanka (October – November), Australia (December 2015 – January 2016)
February 8, 2016 Letter from T20 Captain querying a number of issues on the agreed remuneration package which was sent from May 2015.
The WICB has since been in dialogue with the captain and the rest of the squad. The selected players all have contracts and they are due to be signed by Sunday, February 14.
The ICC Twenty20 World Cup is due from March 8 to April 3 in India.