Devon Dick, Contributor
ON THE weekend, the directors of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) met in Barbados to discuss, among other things, players issues. The way the WICB has been handling players and their contracts and West Indies cricket in general, could be described as 'curried goat' cricket.
'Curried goat' cricket is a game that is light-hearted and in which a contrived result is achieved.
The last time I played in a 'curried goat' cricket match was at the institution that is celebrating its 40th anniversary, United Theological College of the West Indies. The match was part of the orientation of new students and the older students so organised the game to ensure the desired outcome. This is also done in some areas of rural Jamaica in which the main aim is to eat curried goat while ignoring the finer tenets of the game.
AWFUL CONTRACT
It seems as if it is that in which the WICB is engaged as it relates to players' contracts. Former Gleaner Sport Editor, Tony Becca, who has no legal training, outlined four areas in which the players would be at a disadvantage with the proposed contract. The arbitrator of the dispute between the WICB and the players has legal training and experience and has ruled in favour of the players. One would therefore have expected from the recently-concluded meeting of the directors, that the person or persons responsible for such an awful contract and who placed the Australian tour in jeopardy, would have resigned or be asked to resign.
Who got sacked for underpaying Clive Lloyd and his successful team when the West Indies board had money? Instead of a worthwhile contrition from the WICB over the matter, an official stated that the players were asking for 'big bucks'. The official did not tell us how much money the board will be making and what percentage will go to players' salaries. The executive did not state what West Indian players are asking for in comparison with other test-playing nations. Is it 20 per cent of the revenues like what the Australian players are getting?
That spokesperson was quick to point out the increase from what the cricketers got on the England tour to what they were asking now but he did not tell us what the increase in the coach's package was from what obtained in England. What is the difference between what former coach Gus Logie got to what present Coach Bennett is getting?
QUESTIONS
This 'curried goat' cricket attitude is demonstrated in other areas. How else could one explain that after being successful in the ICC World Cup Championship, the coach loses the job? How do we explain Ramnaresh Sarwan losing the job as vice-captain of the West Indies team when in 2004, Sarwan had his best year in terms of number of runs scored and wickets taken? In addition, he was voted as the most valuable player in the ICC competition. But in any case, no reason was given why he got it after Wavell Hinds was tried on the Bangladesh tour, which was successful. When nothing is said, one speculates.
Is it because Sarwan refused to sign the unjust contract and Chanderpaul signed it? Another thing: Lara complained that all of the West Indies preliminary round World Cup 2007 matches would be played in Jamaica (Gleaner January 14, 2005). As a Jamaican, I liked the idea of all matches being here but it had struck me as a bad decision to have all the West Indies matches played here. More West Indians would have seen our team play in the World Cup if it were moved to different territories. By now, one would have expected the WICB to enlighten the people of the Caribbean as to why such a package was created. But alas! Not a word.
It distresses me, what is happening in West Indies cricket. It is sad to see the legend and National Hero of Barbados, Gary Sobers, in an advertisement saying that the best thing to happen to West Indies cricket for a long time is the Digicel sponsorship. It smacks of ungratefulness to former sponsors Shell and Cable and Wireless. It smacks of kissing up to Digicel. It is just 'buttu' behaviour.
These happenings are all signs of the WICB's 'curried goat' cricket attitude towards West Indies cricket management.
Rev. Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: the Church in Nation Building.'
