THERE was a time when most cricket fans paid close attention to the disputes between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA).
In recent times, however, I get the feeling that not many of us are interested in their battles, verbal and otherwise.
It has now become the norm to hear continuous arguments between the two parties.
The song is usually the same to the extent that it is something of a stuck record.
One body usually accuses the other of something. It is usually followed by a response with a counter accusation. And it goes on and on.
They eventually settle on their differences, we see a picture of representatives of the two bodies shaking hands and all is well once again. Only for a time, however. The story usually repeats itself.
This ongoing, seemingly never-ending saga, has virtually reduced us to the laughing stock of the cricket world.
Identifying the genesis of the problem is difficult.
Which party is to blame? Both are at fault.
WIPA has every right to represent the players’ interests, but too often, the body comes across as too confrontational.
The WICB also has its shortcomings and it is significant to note that whenever disputes have gone to arbitration in the past few years, the respected, independent arbitrators have ruled in favour of WIPA on almost every occasion.
It is something the WICB must take note of.
The latest war of words is now being played out.
It started last week when the WICB accused WIPA of breaching the collective bargaining agreement after the players’ body advised its members to cover the shirt manufacturer’s logo during the recent Caribbean Twenty20.
WIPA responded by saying the WICB had a lack of understanding about this and other agreements and it was planning to reveal to the public the many breaches by the WICB since last October.
Two days later, the WICB accused WIPA of turning down the assistance of the International Cricket Council and the Federation of International Cricketers Association in an effort to solve a dispute over image rights. WIPA’s response is that it prefers to stick to arbitration.
WIPA adds that mindful of the acceptance of the recommendations of the Caricom Prime-Ministerial Sub-Committee on cricket in September 2009 by both WIPA and the WICB, the agreement brokered by CARICOM and the New York Agreement, the WICB and WIPA agreed to two special binding arbitrations which are due to be heard shortly before a panel of distinguished Caribbean jurists.
While the WICB and WIPA should be commended for keeping the public informed, there are some who might say they have gone overboard with this constant back and forth.
Be that is it may, I think it is high time that their quarrels be kept behind closed doors.
The public has had enough.
•haydngill@nationnews.com
