The West Indies Cricket Board’s policy of excluding the senior players who were involved in protest action over several issues in relation to their terms of engagement seems to have been put to task.
In response to enquiries following Sunday’s Press Release, Sir Shridath Ramphal yesterday gave the following clarification:
“For the removal of doubt and avoidance of misunderstanding, I make clear that the Mediation Process following the Georgetown Agreement between the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players Association in no way affects the obligation of WICB to select the best West Indies team available for the ICC Champions Trophy tour of South Africa; and that the WICB has at least until 22 August to do so, including any changes to lists earlier supplied notwithstanding the on going Mediation Process.”
The first part of the mediation ended without any agreement and the parties are currently engaged in the second phase.
The WICB excluded their senior players from the recent side which were badly beaten by Bangladesh and the squad chosen for the Champions Trophy tournament following the players’ refusal to play the just concluded series.
Sir Shridath’s clarification now puts the WICB in a spot and Caribbean cricket fans will look to see what is done as the latest turmoil in the regional game continues.