I read with a smile, the call for the president and members of the West Indies Cricket Board (WIBC) to resign over the debacle that occurred in India.
Let me say that such a call is not new when there is a controversy with players, contractual arrangements etc. but such a call should only be made from a foundation of thorough analysis and reasonableness.
How could someone accuse the WIBC of calling off the tour and not accuse the players? The WIBC, at the time had no grievances with the BCCI, neither WIPA nor the players. The truth is that the players had an issue with their union and opted to settle it by refusing to play.
The option of sending replacement players is not fair because all previous arrangements were centred on the West Indies first team, with its so-called best players.
For the WICB to then give the paying public, sponsors, television audiences a second grade team is bordering on being disrespectful.
My question is, if the board should resign, what should happen to the players?
Should they be selected for the next series without disciplinary action? Should these players be allowed to disrespect West Indies cricket, CARICOM leaders and the entire Caribbean people without being disciplined?
I am sure that such a situation would not have been tolerated in any other country.
Imagine a such situation occurring in football, the team or players would be suspended and fined.
In January 2014 Racing Santander Football Club was banned from next season’s Copa del Rey after boycotting the second leg of their quarter-final with Real Sociedad.
Although Racing Santander FC had a strong reason which was, not being paid the wages for months, the Spanish Football Association did not condone such conduct by the team.
A team or a club not playing a fixtured game is a serious infraction in sport.
The governing body for football in Europe (UEFA) has a regulation that says: If a club refuses to play or is responsible for a match not taking place or not being played in full, the control and disciplinary body declares the match forfeited and/or disqualifies the club concerned in combination with fines.
No sporting organisation should allow players who, without thought and considerations of consequences, abandon a tour in the middle of a tournament and then continue to play as normal without any disciplinary action.
To add insult to the matter, after a few days on the beach the captain of the team said in public, that the team was ready to play again, while the governments and people of the Caribbean have to pay a US$42 million bill because of their ignorance.
The board must not be influenced by lawyers, who parade on the airwaves and in the media asking for no victimisation of players but instead discipline these players and make a new start for the betterment of West Indies cricket.
I am concerned that the board gave No Objection Certificates (NOC) to some players, who abandoned a West Indies tour, to participate in another tournament having not been brought before the board to explain their actions.
In my view this is a serious matter and all players should not be allowed to travel to any tournament without a complete hearing of all matters pertaining to the tour. This is where the ICC should put rules in place to stop or control such stupid behaviour by players.
I hope the day will soon come when such actions will be deemed inappropriate by the ICC and players who seek to destroy the integrity of the sport will, be dealt with accordingly.
• Barney Callender is a former Division 1 cricketer and FIFA-accredited football referee.