Players' body lambasts Windies board for failing to provide contract

St Lucia, June 14 (UNI) The contract row refuses to spare cricket in the Caribbean and West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) President Dinanath Ramnarine has launched a scathing attack on the cricket board for failing to provide Retainers Contract to Brian Lara's men despite its committment.

In a letter, made public by www.caribbeancricket.com, to West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President Ken Gordon, Mr Ramnarine said, ''We are concerned that despite all the media hype, the WICB continues on its merry dilatory way, taking the Players for granted, putting them in untenable situations, and all the while, olding them to the highest expectations of performance.

''If the Board could match its expectations with its own performance, it would be better for all concerned,'' he added.

''I write to convey my deep disappointment and concern that despite several public assurances on your part, and frequent reminders and enquiries from our side, the members of WIPA currently engaged in the Cricket series against India have yet to be issued with the relevant contracts.

''In fact, this is the first time in my experience as President of WIPA that a situation has arisen where players have been engaged in a series without contracts. Our members have thereby exposed themselves and their careers to jeopardy, playing as they are without settled terms, with no formal agreement on remuneration and other conditions, and with no assurances over what is to happen, for example, in the event of injury or worse,'' he said.

Referring to the public announcement of the breakthrough in the negotiations between the board and the association, the WIPA chief said, ''...it was agreed that Players will be engaged for the Zimbabwe tour on a Match Tour Contract, and that the Retainer Contract would be in place for selected players for the Indian series. The WICB has failed to honour this commitment. Indeed, it has failed to offer any contracts at all for the Indian tour.

''Alarmingly, it has also failed to provide any explanation for this situation...The players, for their part, have performed all their obligations, including those to the Board's Sponsor, as if a contract were in place. Naturally, they are disquieted and have reason to feel deluded and used,'' he said.

''We are concerned that despite all the media hype, the WICB continues on its merry dilatory way, taking the Players for granted, putting them in untenable situations, and all the while, holding them to the highest expectations of performance. If the Board could match its expectations with its own performance, it would be better for all concerned,'' Mr Ramnarine added.

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