The WICB crisis - World cricket can't afford to lose West Indies

WICB President Dave Cameron (R) and WIPA President and CEO Wavell Hinds (L)

Those of us who started following cricket since the late 80s will be particularly troubled with the recent chaos in West Indies cricket as because, in those days, the West Indies were the undisputed champions of world cricket and everyone relished watching them in action. They were everyone’s favourite team.

But as time progressed, their dominating performances started to lose its shine. The charisma and magnetism, which made them so special, were lost and there had been an appalling deterioration in interest for playing cricket.

Over the years, the West Indies cricket has gone doldrums. Their players lack passion, heart and purpose and their problems can be attributed to a vacuum at the top. The men in charge have always failed to realize that their natural talents had dried out a long time back and nowadays, success is achieved through sheer discipline, strict professionalism and a strong work ethic. But sadly, the WICB had always been more interested in practicing whims rather than sense and sensibilities.

In February, this year, Dwayne Bravo, the one-day captain, along with other players met Wavell Hinds, who is both the President and Chief Executive of West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA). Hinds told the players that they would have to share an amount of their international earning as it was needed to fund the new first-class franchise system. The players agreed with Hinds’ proposal on condition that they receive back some amount in another form.

So, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Hinds with WICB’s President Dave Cameron in September. But according to Bravo, the players were hardly consulted about this matter and the team traveled to India without signing their new contracts.

Dwayne Bravo suggested reinstating the old agreement temporarily until the Indian tour ended so that they all could discuss about the matter at length and renegotiate the terms of the new MoU. But Cameron didn’t agree with such and argued that since Hinds had already signed it, the new MoU would remain as it was.

The players thought that both WICB and WIPA are riding on the same boat and Hinds had been the main culprit. In a letter to Hinds, Bravo said that the players have lost confidence in Hinds because of the MoU he signed with the WICB on their behalf in which WIPA agreed to massive pay cuts - their Test, one-day and Twenty20 fees had been decreased by 75 percent. They also claimed that their International Cricket Council (ICC) fees have been decreased by "close to 100 percent" and that they would not be compensated for the use of their rights under the new deal.

But a stubborn Hinds declared that he would not resign and his reply to Bravo’s letter was, “I must take this opportunity to remind you that there is a process embedded in WIPA's memorandum and articles of association regarding the election and removal of officers, and that your call for some members of the current executive and board to resign is not supported by that process. We were placed here by the rules of our association, and will leave only according to the will of the majority of our membership as provided in those rules”.

The situation became bad to worse to worst and ultimately went out of control. The West Indian players protested against Hinds and Cameron by skipping the Indian tour and this move didn’t impress cricket’s powerhouse BCCI at all. They have already suspended all bilateral ties with West Indies and have threatened to take legal actions against them. This move will make West Indies cricket suffer badly as because playing against India have always been financially beneficial for WICB. And now if such tours don’t take place, then it will be tough for West Indies to exist. Ultimately they will sink.

The ICC released a statement regarding this matter on October 22 saying, “The ICC hopes that the matter will be resolved amicably, but clarified that, unless the matter is otherwise referred to it, it does not have the power to intervene in disputes resulting from a bilateral FTP tour”.

Moreover, if the ICC applies its rules then under the ICC's Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, unanimously approved by the full council in June 2014, the WICB could face suspension from the ICC.

So, if they really face a suspension from international cricket then it will not only make them bankrupt but it will be a big loss for world cricket as well.

The core issue is all about who earns more money and not cricket. Neither Hinds nor Cameron nor Bravo and his men are sacrificing their egos. If they all don’t come to a solution, then the future of West Indies cricket looks bleak and it will not be good for world cricket at all as because world cricket needs West Indies to survive and improve.