Guyanese players in the dark – No response from GCB to WIPA’s proposal

Aug 12, 2010 Sports

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WIPA shares the Guyanese players concern about being kept in the dark about the arrangements for their participation in the forthcoming Airtel CLT20 scheduled for September 2010 in South Africa.
The WICB has announced that it intends to retain one third of the participation fee of 500K.
WIPA is unaware of any other Board retaining any part of the Participation Fee. WIPA is of the view that retaining such a large sum could have a direct negative impact on Guyanese cricket and its players. In fact, WIPA understands that no monies were deducted from the TTCB for last year’s participation.
The claimed justification by the WICB is that it incurred significant costs in hosting the recently concluded tournament. What the WICB has not revealed is the income it generated by the tournament from in particular ESPN, but also others. If the WICB has made a loss for organizing the recent tournament they should place all the financial information into the public domain to confirm their commitment to transparency and good governance.
The WICB has confirmed that it is for the GCB and the players or their representatives (WIPA) to agree how the two thirds of the Participation Fee is to be shared.
The GCB has failed to respond to WIPA’s proposals made 10 days ago as to how the monies should be shared and this gives cause for concern bearing in mind the deadlines required of it to ensure the teams participation in the Airtel CLT20.
The Team Participation Agreement identifies the prize money allocated for the event. Whilst the WICB has confirmed that these monies will be paid to the GCB and the WICB will make no claim on these monies, it is a matter of further concern that the GCB has failed to respond to WIPA’s proposals as to how these monies should be shared between the GCB and the players.
The prize monies payable for Trinidad and Tobago’s participation in last year’s event were shared pursuant to an agreement between the TTCB and WIPA as confirmed by Vice President TTCB, Mr. Dudnath Ramkessoon in the Guyana Chronicle and then subsequently by the President of the TTCB Mr. Azim Bassarath in a Trinidad Guardian newspaper report.
The WICB has further stated that neither it nor the GCB can negotiate the use of the players’ image rights and that negotiations should take place directly with the CLT20. WIPA doubts that this can be correct because the WICB is obligated under the Team Participation Agreement to procure use of the Players Attributes to ensure the full and successful exploitation of the commercial rights.
Further, no other team negotiates with CLT20 for consideration of the obligations and restrictions of players – that is a matter (and quite rightly so) between the Board that is obligated to procure these rights, obligations and restrictions and the players and their player representatives through negotiations.
If we are to extend the thinking of the WICB, then does it expect the players/ WIPA to negotiate directly with the ICC for the players’ involvement in any ICC event? This would be surprising as the Team Participation Agreement is based upon the Members Participation Agreement for ICC Events. The reason that the documents are drawn up as they are is that the Boards need to procure the rights from the players and then in turn the Boards pay consideration to the players for use of those rights from the monies they receive for the team’s participation.
Finally, WIPA’s primary concern is to conclude the players’ arrangements at the earliest time so that full focus can be given to the team’s preparation for what will be a challenging event.
With this in mind, WIPA is proposing a series of games against the Trinidad and Tobago cricket team.  The proposal has been favourably received by President GCB Mr. Chetram Singh, as well as the Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago Players.

Digicel played major role in Guyana’s 20/20 success says GCB

If you think of West Indies cricket it’s hard not to think of Digicel, the leading cell phone provider in Guyana and the West Indies which is the official sponsor of not only the regional team but several developmental programmes aimed at reviving a game which has united Caribbean people more than any other single thing in the West Indies.
Digicel’s association with West Indies cricket began in 2004 when the Irish-based mobile phone company signed a five-year sponsorship deal with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and became ‘Proud Sponsor of West Indies Cricket.
This covers the West Indies Team, A-Team, Home Series, Away Series and a Cricket Development Fund and in 2007 Digicel extended its sponsorship contract to 2012. The contract now features a guaranteed US$20 million (US$4 million per annum) plus additional win bonuses for the team.
Digicel also has individual sponsorship agreements with three West Indies Cricketers Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Denesh Ramdin and also sponsors Sir Garfield Sobers and Lance Gibbs.
In 2005 when Digicel agreed to sponsor the West Indies ‘A’ team for their tour to Sri Lanka, the company, which has its Caribbean Head quarters in Jamaica, contracted Guyanese journalist and Radio commentator Sean Devers to travel with the team as the only Caribbean journalist to cover the series for the Digicelcricket.com website and the Caribbean media.
Although Digicel paid his entire expense in addition to the cost for his services, Devers was allowed to send exclusive stories and photographs for his Guyanese newspaper the Kaieteur News.
Digicel (Guyana) has also been very supportive of cricket in Guyana and played a major role in the Guyana team’s preparation for their championship winning campaign in the recent Caribbean 20/20 championships.  Digicel also sponsored Devers’ coverage of the tournament for the Kaieteur News, the only Guyanese newspaper present in Trinidad when Guyana beat T&T in the semis and Barbados in the final to qualify for next month’s Champions League tournament in South Africa.
Digicel is now set to contribute to Guyana’s build-up to their participation in South Africa. Because the Airtel Champions League is sponsored by a telecommunications company, Digicel cannot
sponsor the Guyana team in Africa.
“Ramsay Ali (GCB Marketing Manager) and I approached Digicel when time was closing in and the WICB had suddenly brought forward the regional T20 to accommodate CLT20,” GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie informed.
“We worked with Digicel marketing department and prepared a strategy that would spread the fixture countrywide. As you are aware a lot of new and innovative ideas were used to keep the core players coming forward” Sanasie added.
The National Digicel 20/20 competition not only allowed the company to promote their various promotions by naming teams after products but also ensured that the best players in the different areas were exposed to the National selectors.
“Lennox Cush would never have been in the squad if the rules did not allow him to play for New Line Cavaliers. Digicel committed substantial prizes and uniforms for the tournament. The weather was not favourable but we persisted under adverse conditions not unlike what prevailed in Trinidad,” Sanasie informed Kaieteur Sport.
Sanasie said the tournament helped the selectors tremendously as opposed to short listing 25 players and putting them on trials. “Our new rules of compulsory fitness test also caused players to up their fitness levels.
Statistical data and video footage compiled and provided by Robin Singh are proving valuable,” the GCB executive continued.
“We would wish to have Digicel on board for next year since we feel their contribution played a big role in helping us to win our first senior title since 2005.
The GCB would like to express a special thank you to Digicel and look forward to future successful partnerships with them,” Sanasie.

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