[www.inewsguyana.com] – The West Indies cricket team today, Tuesday, October 07 skipped its final pre-match practice session and the press conference that was to follow, creating quite a stir ahead of the ODI against India on Wednesday, according to the The Hindu sport website.
According to the article, the visiting side was scheduled to have a training session from 1:00 p.m. followed by a media briefing at 4:00 p.m. at the Nehru Stadium.
It was earlier reported that a potential strike by West Indies’ cricketers is looming less than three weeks after the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) signed a landmark memorandum of understanding/collective bargaining agreement (MOU/CBA).
NATION SPORT investigations yesterday revealed that the WICB had been warned of a possible withdrawal of players’ services for tomorrow’s first One-Day International against India in Kochi.
The threat stems from various clauses of the new MOU/CBA with which the players are unhappy.
Well placed sources revealed that several Caribbean cricketers, including top international players, were not privy to many key sections of the agreement that was signed on September 18 by WICB President Dave Cameron and WIPA President and Chief Executive Officer Wavell Hinds at the Accra Beach Hotel.
At the centre of the players’ issues is the decisions taken that significantly result in a decline in income. It is understood that under the terms of the new MOU/CBA, a portion of the revenue that was previously divided among West Indies players would now be shared by the wider membership of WIPA.
Additionally, the players would no longer be entitled to a 25 per cent share of income the WICB secured from International Cricket Council events.
It is believed that the players said in their correspondence to the WICB that if the issues were not resolved in short order, they would be prepared to take drastic action.
Who are collecting the gold make the rules!