By Glen Thompson Published: November 5, 2009
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Certainly, the failures of the WICB, now and in the past, are
well-documented. However, it appears that the Board, even with the
Patterson Report in hand, has not yet awakened to the urgent necessity
for meaningful reform. Undoubtedly, it faces numerous challenges,
especially that of finances. Still, unless a seismic shift occurs, both
in culture and structure, we would be unwise to expect a revival in the
fortunes of West Indies cricket any time soon.
But for all the glaring failures of the WICB, a sense of fair play
suggests that we not hand the WIPA a pass on this and many other
dreadful episodes in West Indies cricket. It is somewhat telling that
even though the Board has been served by a number of presidents, none
of them has succeeded in working amicably with the Players’ Association
in recent times. Not even the olive branch of a seat on the Board has
done anything to change the hostility between these two organizations.
The aggressiveness, excessive emotionalism, and childishness-
witness the so called “apology” from the players- means that the Board
will never be able to negotiate in good faith until there is an
overhaul of the WIPA itself.
If the players desire legitimate change in the way the Board
comports itself, it will not happen by strikes or under-performing on
the international stage. In this case, their cure is worse than the
disease.
The irony in all this is that both organizations need each other.
The Board depends on experienced and talented players to market our
brand of cricket and players depend on the Board to receive a pay
cheque. We should be under no illusion. Without a single governing
body, there will be no West Indies cricket team. The idea of national
teams may be a tempting idea, but it is that and nothing else. Jamaica
and Trinidad may be at the top of domestic cricket, but their quality
of cricket, unfortunately, does not command international respect;
hence, they will not attract the requisite sponsorship, which is the
veritable life-blood of cricket. Simply put, without the Board or a
similar entity, our cricketers do not have a livelihood in cricket.
Surely, this consideration should cause them to adopt a more
conciliatory tone?
Furthermore, a little humility here will go a long way. I would not
be surprised to learn that the WI players are not the best paid in the
world, but they earn more than the average person in the Caribbean. And
with few exceptions, they produce very little. Should this reality not
temper the unhelpful posturing that we are witnessing? I am unaware of
any organization that pays its workers simply to show up to work.
Companies pay employees to produce. Similarly, the West Indies players
should realize that they are paid to win. It seems to me that winning
is the most effective bargaining tool the WIPA has at its disposal.
Perhaps the players will be better served by focusing on the elephant
in their room─unprofessional, indiscipline, and inept performances.
After addressing these, their gripes will likely garner more public
sympathy and then the Board may just be forced to listen.
In the end, the WICB and the WIPA must change. We cannot continue to
stumble from one crisis to another. However, this will not occur until
both entities cease to pay lip-service to the notion that the West
Indian public is the major stakeholder in West Indies cricket and
actually believe it. We deserve the respect of the Board. And to do
this it must transform itself into a more professional and efficient
administrative body, so that our players are not provoked to act in a
manner injurious to our cricket.
Likewise, the players must respect the public and not take cricket
hostage in their mêlée with the Board. If the current WI players cannot
see the wisdom of this, then perhaps a reorganized Board should invest
in a new and even inexperienced group of cricketers, whose commitment
is first to cricket and not self-interest. In the short-term, this
would relegate us to the bottom of the ICC table of Test playing
nations, but it may be a critical ingredient in the sorely need
antidote for the resurgence of West Indies Cricket.
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