The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has not paid match fees and sponsorship money to players from as far back as the England tour of the Caribbean, according to information reaching CaribbeanCricket.com.
By Ryan NaraineThe unpaid money includes match fees for the third and fourth Tests during the recent tour of England, match fees for the ICC Champions
Trophy tournament, sponsorship shares from Sandals Resorts and LNM Group and funds withheld from player salaries to cover fines and disciplinary infractions.
Officials from the WICB did not return calls for comment last night but sources say the board is still struggling with the same cash flow crisis that caused a delay recently in paying a US$10,000 prize to groundsmen in Barbados who won the ?Pitch and Grounds Incentives?.
?We're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid bonuses from team sponsors and match fees.
This is a clear breach of contract,? said a source close to the board who is familiar with the issue.
Match fees for both Tests and ODIs are due and payable by the WICB under terms of tour contracts agreed to between the board and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA).
These fees are typically paid in installments and should be paid in full by the time a tour or tournament ends but it has been two months since the end of the Test and ODI series against England and the players have not been paid.
When the LNM Group team sponsorship was announced in September this year, WICB president Teddy Griffith said the the money would open up another stream of revenue (besides regular pay and prize money during the Champions Trophy) for the team.
?These streams provide a challenge and incentive to the team to lift the standard of their cricketing performance so that they will be able to maximise the financial rewards that are available for consistently good and competitive performances during the tournament,? Griffith said, making it clear the team's financial bonuses were directly related to their performance.
But, since winning the tournament, not a cent has been disbursed the players.
Meanwhile, the (WICB) and the West Indies Players? Association (WIPA) will have discussions next Thursday in an attempt to settle several troubling matters in West Indies cricket.
The main talking point will be allegations that the WICB bypassed WIPA when inviting players to a training camp.
After calls on Wednesday for talks from WIPA boss Dinanath Ramnarine, the board answered these calls to come to the table in a bid to resolve the issues.
West Indies players are not paid a retainer but this is a process in the works and should be approved soon.
Another issue which could be on the agenda is likely to be players? obligations towards the board.
Several players are under contract with former sponsors Cable & Wireless, and with Digicel taking over the sponsorship for regional series there are some matters to be thrashed out, a source said.
Earlier this week the WICB denied the allegations shortly after the 25-man squad was named for a three-week camp, starting November 29, to prepare for the tri-nation tournament in Australia.
WIPA issued a statement Tuesday, saying that it had instructed 25 players not to sign their contracts.
(CaribbeanCricket.com)
There are six contractual obligations that have not yet been met by the WICB:
* England in the West Indies, 2004?10% match fees withheld to cover potential fines or disciplinary actions.
* West Indies in England, 2004?10% match fees withheld to cover potential fines or disciplinary actions.
* West Indies in England, 2004?Match fees for the 3rd and 4th Tests.
* West Indies in England, 2004?Match fees for seven (7) one day
internationals in the NatWest series.
* West Indies in England, 2004?Sponsorship split from Sandals Resorts to cover the Tests and NatWest ODI tournament.
* ICC Champions Trophy, 2004?Sponsorship share from LNM Group, the team's sponsor.
