WIPA wants 'full' recognition

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Newly appointed director of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), Michael Hall, says one of the reasons that led to opener Chris Gayle making himself unavailable for the ongoing Digicel Home Series with Pakistan was that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) failed to communicate effectively with WIPA.

According to Hall, who was speaking at an impromptu press conference in Kingston last Thursday, the WICB, despite a collective bargaining agreement, sidestepped WIPA, the legitimate representative of regional first-class and international players, in the negotiation process, and, as such, they could not properly advise Gayle whether or not to take up an offer to play in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).

"One of the causes of mix-up ... is that the WICB, rather than dealing with WIPA, the legitimate negotiating body for players, the WICB continues to deal directly with the players," said Hall, who was one of three persons who were appointed to WIPA's board last November to help raise its profile.

The others are former governor of the Bank of Jamaica Derick Latibeaudiere, and noted Guyanese attorney-at-law Dave Kissoon.

no discussions

"You hear the WICB CEO (Dr Ernest Hilaire) talking about we have had discussions with Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo, but we have not had discussions with Gayle," Hall continued.

"But why? Why are you having discussions with some players when they have a representative organisation?

"It is a fundamental problem ... and unless they change and fully recognise us as the players' representative we will continue to have problems as it relates to player relations with the board."

The WICB, prior to granting Gayle a required No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in the ongoing IPL, said it was disappointed that Gayle had made himself "unavailable" for the current Digicel Homes Series showdown with Pakistan.

Gayle, however, in his defence, said he decided to seek the NOC because he did not know what the WICB had in their plans for him.