Cricket West Indies to give players separate contracts for different formats

What's the story?

Cricket West Indies (CWI) will be offering separate contracts for cricketers engaged across different formats. The three different contracts to be introduced from July 1, 2018 are: All-format contracts, Red-ball contracts and white-ball contracts. "The new retainer contracts aim to incentivise our players to play cricket for the West Indies and be contracted to CWI," Johnny Grave, the chief executive officer of the CWI, said.

In case you didn't know..

Over the last few years, there have been numerous feuds between the players and the board relating to contracts and player salaries. This has been such a pervasive issue that players like Dwayne Bravo and Chris Gayle have been content to be a part of only the T20 national team while plying their trade in T20 leagues around the world.

Just three days back, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo chose the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 competition over the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe this March for the 2019 tournament which the West Indies will have to compete in after failing to qualify directly by virtue of rank nine on the cut-off date.

The heart of the matter

In the new contracts, only five players – Test and ODI captain Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope. Alzarri Joseph and Devendra Bishoo – have been offered all-format contracts. The ones who have been given red-ball contracts are Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Jermaine Blackwood, Miguel Cummins and Jomel Warrican.

The white-ball deals have been provided to only Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Jason Mohammed, Evin Lewis and Rovman Powell.

However, there is a provision for four development contracts in the red-ball and white-ball groups. The former category includes Shimron Hetmyer, Kieran Powell and Vishaul Singh, while the latter one has only Kesrick Williams. "All the new contracts offer increased remuneration to our West Indie men's team as well as enhanced medical and insurance policies,” Grave mentioned.

What's next?

The World Cup Qualifiers begin on March 6 with ten teams, including Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, competing for two spots in the 2019 World Cup in England. As a result of some of the aforementioned names opting out, the West Indies will have to make do without the services of some marquee players.

Author's Take

It was only fair on part of the CWI to offer separate contracts for players representing the nation in different formats. This demarcation will ensure that those playing the maximum number of matches are paid more while those engaged only in a limited number of matches are not given a large share.