Tony Becca
THE FIRST Test between the West Indies and South Africa is scheduled to start on March 31 and like cricket fans around the region, the West Indies Board must be hoping, probably even praying, that it will do so.
Although it is unlikely that the start of what should be an interesting series will be delayed, the fear that there could be problems is real. Instead of getting better, the relationship between the Board on one side and the players and the Players' Association on the other appears to be getting worse.
That, however, is not the only problem. Add to that the conflict between the players and the Board that between the Board, sponsors Digicel and former sponsors Cable & Wireless, that between sponsors Digicel and the Players' Association following the 'leaked' report that was intended for the eyes of the sponsors and Board members only and there are problems everywhere.
Remembering that the 1998-99 series in South Africa went on despite a strike by the players, that the final of the Carib Beer Cup two seasons ago took place after losing only a day following a strike called by the Players' Association, and that after a fight over sponsorship deals that threatened the tour, the West Indies team did go to Australia recently, there are those who will say, "Cho, not a thing is going to happen. They have always come up with a compromise".
"Every day bucket go a well, one day the bucket bottom mus drop out" is an old and true saying in Jamaica, however, and unless someone can come up with a master mediator, this coming series could be the day when the bottom drops out of West Indies cricket - the day when things reach a point that there can be no compromise.
Although the full West Indies team went to Australia, the problems between the Board and the players through the Players' Association were not resolved, and with the Players' Association, led by president Dinanath Ramnarine, always ready and willing to throw down the gauntlet at the first opportunity, until they are resolved, more likely in the players' favour, there will always be problems.
MATCH/TOUR CONTRACT CLAUSE
For those who have forgotten, there is still a problem with Clause Five of the match/tour contract as far as the players' rights are concerned when it comes to sponsorship and endorsements. There is still a problem when it comes to the players' obligations to the new sponsors Digicel and the endorsements with old sponsors Cable & Wireless, and as far as Digicel is concerned, there is still a problem with a Board that, in its opinion, has not been able to get the players to toe the line and to forget their endorsement deals with Cable & Wireless.
Despite the problems of the past, however, the Board apparently believes that everything will be fine by March 31 - either that or it believes that cricket fans around the region are fools.
After failing to solve the problems before the team left for Australia, after it was left to Dr. Keith Mitchell, the cricket-loving Prime Minister of Grenada, to step in and broker a compromise, the West Indies Board, after a Directors' meeting last weekend, says it is looking forward to concluding negotiations with the Players Association by February 28 which, incidentally, is not next week or the week after but as early as tomorrow.
The negotiations between the Board and the Players Association include retainer contracts, a collective labour agreement, a memorandum of understanding, a players' code of conduct, a match/tour contract and, according to a release last Tuesday by Leonard Robertson, the Board's corporate communications manager, the Board is hoping that negotiations will be concluded by tomorrow - just over one month before the first ball is bowled at Bourda.
Unless the Board is prepared to give in to all the demands of the players, that is wishful thinking - and remembering that the Board must be able to offer sponsors something worthwhile for their money, that it must have some control over the players when it comes to dealing with its sponsors and when it comes to dealing with competitors of its sponsors, that it must keep some of its income to fund such things as administration and development, if it does that, that would be like a death sentence for West Indies cricket.
Like all professionals, the West Indies players have their rights. They need to understand a few things, however - they need to understand that they live in the West Indies, that regardless of how good they are and what they are worth, they can only be paid what the Board and the game in the West Indies can afford, that some of the Board's money must be used to keep the game going and, apart from ensuring that they are paid, they need to understand that sponsors are vital to the survival of West Indies cricket.
The way things look, with the Board apparently determined to control the players as far as endorsements are concerned, with the players apparently determined not only to fight for their rights, but to pocket everything regardless, West Indies cricket is in serious trouble and desperately needs a master peacemaker.
West Indies cricket needs someone who can get the Board to understand that without the players, there can be no game, someone who can get the players to understand that there were others before them, that there must be others after them, that without sponsors there will be no West Indies team, and that if there is no West Indies team there will be no pay.
