Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
LLOYD
WEST INDIES cricket is in danger of another embarrassing stand-off as India's tour of the Caribbean looms.
Yesterday, through a press release, the Clive Lloyd-led WICB Cricket Committee stated tomorrow should be the cut-off point for player retainer contracts to be settled.
After that time, only players who have signed the contract should be selected to the team for the coming series, Lloyd's team recommended to the WICB's board of directors.
This follows on the heels of last year's debacle in which a sub-par West Indian team toured Sri Lanka due to an impasse over sponsorship deals.
The committee, which also includes former West Indies players Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Desmond Haynes, Deryck Murray and Ian Bishop, questioned the reason for delays in negotiations since an offer was put on the table to the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) on January 12.
CONCERNS
The committee also voiced concerns that some players may be continuing to negotiate contracts with sponsors that rival Digicel.
Attempts to get in touch with the WIPA president Dinanath Ramna-rine for a response to the committee's ultimatum yesterday proved unsuccessful.
However, as recently as Tuesday, Ramnarine indicated his association would not be forced into signing the agreement.
"We are not going to be pressured by anybody into signing a retainer contract because we are the only team that does not have a retainer contract," Ramnarine said.
"We will sign the retainer contract once we believe that it is a fair and reasonable contract and it is in the best interest of the players," he said.
