Is West Indies cricket dead ?

[sussexpob]

Wasn't Basketball the blame for potential cricketers being lured away? Now baseball? Crappy Infrastructure instead?

See page 16 from mid December

[rich1uk]

Wasn't Basketball the blame for potential cricketers being lured away? Now baseball? Crappy Infrastructure instead?

baseball has started to get really active about expanding outside the US , the money that is in the game has went through the roof the last few years and with one of the best setups for online services its seeing big increases in viewers outside the US as well

basketball usually requires quite a specific physique to reach the top level whereas the basic skillsets between cricket and baseball are quite similar so in theory its an easier cross-over

[mikesiva]

WI now top the rankings for T20 cricket ... so there is life yet (albeit it not in tests)

what will happen with the squad for the T20WC - will we see the likes of Gayle, Bravo, Sammy, Russell, Narine and Badree playing for WI?

Here's the answer....

"Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Darren Sammy will be eligible for selection for upcoming tournaments, including the World Twenty20, despite not being given annual retainer contracts by the West Indies Cricket Board. The only condition the WICB has placed is that the players will need to meet criteria set in place by the selection panel, led by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd. The six players are not part of the group of 15 who were given retainer contracts for the period between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2016....Bravo and Sammy announced their retirement from Test cricket. Pollard has never played Test cricket and is seen by selectors as a limited-overs specialist. Although Lloyd has always been keen for Russell to play Test cricket, the allrounder told the chairman of selectors he would like to play only limited-overs cricket due to a bad knee. Narine, who has played six Tests, is busy remodelling his bowling action after he was suspended by the ICC in November last year. Only Gayle, a 103-Test veteran, has openly stated he is still keen to return to Test cricket in 2016."

http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/ ... 61803.html

[mikesiva]

To all concerned at WICB

I am sending this as captain of the West Indies T20 side and as a collective representative of the 15 man squad selected for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

We have collectively discussed the remuneration on offer to participate in the T20 World Cup. Considering that 14 out of the 15 man squad are not part of WIPA - and hence have not given authorisation to WIPA to negotiate on our behalf - and a large number do not receive any significant remuneration from WICB at all, we want the opportunity to negotiate fairly the financial terms within the contract.

The 2015 World Cup took place with the WI squad remunerated under the terms and conditions that had been in place for the World Cups previous - ie that 25% of income received by the WICB for participating in the tournament was distributed to the squad.

We do not understand - nor accept - just 1 year later being offered contracts to participate in a major ICC World Cup that show such huge financial reductions.

We want to represent the West Indies but the financials on offer we can't accept.

Obviously I am not privy to exact numbers paid to the WICB from the ICC, but I understand USD $8m will be paid to the Board.

Traditionally 25% has been paid to the squad. That would equate to USD $2m / 15 therefore approximately USD $133,000 per player.

Worse case scenario the squad would earn $414,000 collectively under the terms of the contract offered by WICB to participate in the T20 World Cup 2016. That is just over 5%. A staggering difference, a near 80% reduction.

We want to propose we participate in the T20 World Cup 2016 under the same terms we have represented the West Indies in previous tournaments.

Please can you address this urgently. The T20 World Cup is just a matter of weeks away.

Darren Sammy

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-t ... 71003.html

[Arthur Crabtree]

Should Floyd Reifer make sure his kit is in order?

[sussexpob]

Must be tough to get a pro-rata wage that is only 60 times better than the national average of your home country. 30,000USD$ for a months work. Disgusting!!!!

Id ban every player for life who dont turn up. Simple. See how much money they make then... no international cricket and no Carribbean T20, wonder how many IPL teams would pick you up.

The Windies Board has huge problems, but I have no time for someone who earns more in a month than their fellow countrymen earn in 6 years moaning about being paid too little.

[mikesiva]

Muirhead signed off his reply by making it quite clear the WICB was not prepared to compromise.

"We are unable to move the deadline of 2pm ECT on 14 February 2016 for receipt of the signed player contracts for the WT20 2016."

Somebody going get a Valentine's Day present...but what?

Sammy's 2nd letter:

Thanks for the response, Michael.

Look, I do have some further comments and queries.

Firstly, as a group we don't accept that WIPA can represent us. WIPA became conflicted during its negotiations with you and compromised itself.

It could not and did not actively represent the best interests of all West Indies cricketers and is a major reason we are having this discussion.

The difference between the remuneration on offer from previous World Cups to this one is shocking and we cannot accept the terms on offer.

For instance, in the 2012 T20 World Cup the lowest paid player was guaranteed US$57,937. Thehighest was guaranteed US$137,045.

Figures were higher in 2014. Players were remunerated based on their experience as well.

You said that it was not possible to calculate a percentage to be paid to the players. Can you then inform us of the amount WICB received in the new payment structure from the ICC?

To now be offered just US$6,900 per match across the board irrespective of experience is totally unacceptable. Players are being asked to start providing services from nearly four weeks ahead of the World Cup and be guaranteed just US$27,600 if they play all the guaranteed matches (which) is a staggering reduction. We are looking, even on 2012 figures, (at) reductions of between 50-80%.

What happens if you do not make the playing XI?

If the team plays matches ahead of the tournament that are official T20 matches they should be remunerated as well. Since you have taken out the 25% share from ICC which was Guaranteed to the squad:

We suggest that 100% of prize money needs to be paid to the players as per previous tournaments. Twenty percent should not be retained by the WICB.

It is the players performing for the prize and further cuts are again completely unacceptable.

What is the sponsorship income that has been generated? We are being offered a percentage of what exactly? With the tournament a month away has the WICB locked in a sponsor? With the tournament happening in India we would expect that our squad has something of significant value to offer, or is the sponsorship income zero? We also suggest that the match fees be doubled from US$6,900.

In summary, we cannot accept the terms on offer. The players are not happy and understandably so with such big differences.

The previous structure worked and players were happy and understood it.

Please address this urgently.

Regards, Darren Sammy

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/ ... 71165.html

[GarlicJam]

Must be tough to get a pro-rata wage that is only 60 times better than the national average of your home country. 30,000USD$ for a months work. Disgusting!!!!

Id ban every player for life who dont turn up. Simple. See how much money they make then... no international cricket and no Carribbean T20, wonder how many IPL teams would pick you up.

The Windies Board has huge problems, but I have no time for someone who earns more in a month than their fellow countrymen earn in 6 years moaning about being paid too little.

That is one way to look at it, another is to look at what the Windies board members are paid - along with their benefits.

[mikesiva]

And speaking of board members....

Muirhead's response

Dear Mr Sammy,

Thank you for your response.

Any issues you or a particular group of players may have with the representation you receive from your association, respectfully, are best taken up with WIPA. As it stands however, WIPA is the exclusive collective bargaining agent for West Indian players--regardless of who those particular players may be at any given time.

Kindly note that the terms on offer were negotiated and agreed between WICB and WIPA with the assistance of representatives from the ICC and FICA during a mediation process last year, and all parties agreed that they were fair and equitable and acceptable to be offered to the members WI team selected for the relevant ICC Event.

As mentioned in my previous email to you, this information was shared with all players following that process in May last year. Players were given an opportunity to discuss the new structure and no concerns were raised at that time. It is disappointing that you would choose to question the terms now, on the eve of the WT20 in India.

Given the input and effort that went into reaching the agreement with respect to player compensation for ICC Events, WICB is not prepared to unilaterally vary the position at this time, or to negotiate different terms without the involvement or endorsement of WIPA.

The old hierarchical system of payment meant that the 15 man squad selected for a particular ICC Event received a grossly disproportionate amount of compensation for just that one event, with senior players gaining significantly more only on the basis of having played more international matches, whereas the new system means that 25% of the distributions received from ICC are placed into the player payment pool, from which players at all levels of West Indies Cricket can benefit.

In any event, as stated in my previous email, the WICB no longer receives any money from the ICC which is specifically linked to any one event.

It is unfortunate that you feel unable to accept the terms on offer.

We are looking forward to you accepting the terms on offer. We will await confirmation from each player as to whether he is accepting or refusing selection to the WI Team for the ICCWT20 2016.

If we should not hear from any player by February 14, as outlined in the email from Mr Holder, we will presume that you have refused selection for the event.

If you would like additional clarification on any of the issues raised in your mail, please do feel free to give me a call so that we can discuss.

Regards, Michael Muirhead Chief Executive Officer

[sussexpob]

That is one way to look at it, another is to look at what the Windies board members are paid - along with their benefits.

Do you know how much they are paid?

I am sorry, but the Windies players need to wake up and smell the coffee. The board is broke, but they pull out of the richest tour they have to India and nearly bankrupt the board, then complain after that they have to take a pay cut? And the why they protest is to pull out of one of the most lucrative and important ICC events??

The board are rubbish in the Windies, but how can the players keep going on strike and inhibit the boards power to make money, then complain they arent getting paid? Surely this is simple business sense?

Is 30,000USD a fair wage for such little work? Yes, of course it is. Especially when players who play every game will still earn 7000USD per game, about 1800USD per hour.

Compared to the best minimum wage in the world, 15 odd USD per hour in Australia, its pretty sure these guys arent going to go hungry soon.

[GarlicJam]

Do you know how much they are paid?

No, to be truthful I have no idea, I have been making a loose assumption or two.

but I did merely pose the question. What are the Board members' renumerations?

It is, though, very unfair and maybe even disingenuous, to say it's "this amount" of money for only "that amount" of work. It's not like a sportsperson suddenly decided to become professional. There is the thousands of hours of training, excercise, practice and sacrifice made to get to the stage where they MAY make "this amount". The elite in (just about) every profession get paid well above what the plebs in it get.

The huge gap that may exist between them is where your point gets some real traction.






(btw, the Aus minimum wage is currently US $12.27)

[mikesiva]

http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2016-02 ... -mediation

"West Indies cricket selectors were yesterday mandated by the WICB to select a new 15-man squad to represent the region in the upcoming ICC T20 World which bowls off on March 8, in India. The four-man panel of Clive Lloyd (chairman), Courtney Browne, Eldine Baptiste and Courtney Walsh were involved in a teleconference that is likely to result in a new team for the tournament, if the demands of Darren Sammy and the other 14 players who have asked for their contracts to be renegotiated are not accepted by the WICB."

http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,223857.html

'“We couldn’t deal with all 100-and-odd players trying to do a contract which is different. Everybody wants something else. It’s just not practical.” Muirhead revealed, “I think two players have already signed and sent back their contracts, and another player is injured, who we have to replace. He’s stated that he will not be taking up the contract because of injury. So we’re making progress.” He declined to reveal the identity of the players, but he is hopeful that the sponsorship deal can be finalised as soon as possible, which will be a boost to the WICB coffers.'

[Alviro Patterson]

In these new contracts, do the players receive a daily allowance or payment for training/warm up matches?

[mikesiva]

It's hard to know what the players are paid for, in the dark and secretive world of the WICB....

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-t ... 71647.html

an email sent to the board over the last 24 hours, Sammy, however, reiterated his original demand asking the WICB to double the match fees, and share 50% of the sponsorship revenue and 100% prize money with the players. Sammy also asked the board if they would be ready for a mediation to settle the matter in case of a disagreement. Sammy's latest communiqué comes after the WICB had set February 14 as the deadline for the players to agree to the terms of the contract, failing which it would be assumed they had refused selection for the World T20.

"As captain of the WT20 team, I wish that we can settle this matter and focus on preparations for the tournament," Sammy said in his third e-mail this week to WICB CEO Michael Muirhead. "I want to state on behalf of the players that we want to play and will represent the West Indies to the best of our abilities."

All through this week Sammy, who is playing for the Peshawar Zalmi franchise in the Pakistan Super League, has been involved in a dialogue with the WICB through a series of e-mail exchanges with Muirhead. In his previous two e-mails to Muirhead, Sammy said the WICB needed to double the players' remuneration for the World T20 and stated they did not recognise the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) as their representative. Muirhead told Sammy that WIPA was the "exclusive collective bargaining agent for West Indian players."

[mikesiva]

"Only three players so far have signed contracts with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to represent the region in the Twenty20 (T20) World Cup, just days before a Valentine’s Day deadline runs out. WICB Chief Executive Michael Muirhead made the disclosure late Thursday evening without revealing the names of those who have put pen to paper before Sunday’s deadline."

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Th ... ight_51625