In what could be a big blow to World T20 2016, a contract row in West Indies cricket could see its star players not participate in the upcoming World Twenty20 in India starting from 8th March. To make the matters, the president of WICB (The West Indies Cricket Board) said players will be thrown out of the squad for the ICC event if they do not agree to the financial terms by Sunday which is the deadline set by WICB chief.
The West Indies Cricket Board told the players in no uncertain terms after the 15-man squad, led by Darren Sammy, refused the contract offered to them.
Meanwhile, speaking to a Jamaican radio ‘Hitz 92fm’, Michael Muirhead, CEO of WICB, was in no mood to accommodate players’ demand.
“The WICB is committed to play in the tournament, let me say that first,” Muirhead said.
“No one will leave the shores of the West Indies without signing a contract and if these players in particular choose not to sign, then I guess we’ll be left with no option but to substitute other players for them.”
This harsh stance of WICB comes after Darren Sammy, the captain of West Indies T20 team, had written to the board saying the players “can’t accept” the terms given to them as there were “huge financial repercussions” in the terms of financial earnings compared to what the players earned in the previous ICC tournaments.
“We want to represent the West Indies but the financials on offer we can’t accept,” Sammy wrote.
“Obviously I am not privy to exact numbers paid to the WICB from the ICC, but I understand USD 8 million will be paid to the board. Traditionally 25 percent has been paid to the squad. That would equate to around USD 2 million, therefore approximately USD 133,000 per player.
“Worse case scenario the squad would earn USD 414,000 collectively under the terms of the contract offered by WICB to participate in the T20 World Cup 2016. That is just over 5 percent. A staggering difference, a near 80 percent reduction.
“We want to propose we participate in the T20 World Cup 2016 under the same terms we have represented the West Indies in previous tournaments.”
Although West Indies cricket is struggling in the Test format, it remains a major force in the shortest form of the game.
The West Indies, who won the 2012 World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, are currently ranked second in the world and the tournament will be poorer without the flamboyance of Sammy and his troops.