WICB, Shiv on collision course over interview

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Veteran West Indies batsman Shiv Chanderpaul is on course for another showdown with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), following an interview he gave to the Line and Length Network last month.

WICB chief executive Ernest Hilaire has written to Chanderpaul requesting an explanation of his interview comments, which he labelled as "ill-advised and detrimental to the interests of the game".

In a letter dated May 24, 2011, Hilaire said Chanderpaul's actions were inappropriate for a player holding a retainer contract and gave the left-hander 10 days to respond.

"As a centrally contracted player, we are in the first instance concerned with your participation in such an interview, of which we had no prior knowledge and for which the WICB granted no approval," the letter said.

"Further, even had you independently decided to engage in such an interview, we must remind you of the duty enshrined in your retainer contract - to ensure that you do not do anything that, in the WICB's reasonable opinion, is likely to denigrate the WICB, a WICB team, another player or any WICB sponsor, or which reveals any information that, in the WICB's reasonable opinion, is confidential to the WICB."

Rules six, nine

The letter continued: "We also refer you to rules six and nine of the WICB Code of Conduct, which respectively prohibit unbecoming behaviour that could bring the game of cricket into disrepute or be harmful to the interests of cricket, and players and team officials from making public or media comment which is detrimental to the interests of the game.

"It is our opinion that several of the comments made by you in the course of the abovementioned interview have the effect of denigrating the WICB, and in particular the head coach, the selectors, the CEO and the executive members of the board.

"We further consider that your comments were ill-advised and detrimental to the interests of the game."

In a 20-minute interview ahead of the opening Test against Pakistan in Guyana, Chanderpaul charged that West Indies selectors had tried to force him to retire but he had refused.

He also hinted that his form had suffered as a result of being put under pressure by current coach Ottis Gibson, who tried to dictate how he ought to bat.

Chanderpaul was also upset over his non-inclusion in the Windies squad for the five-match one-day international series against Pakistan.

"While we consider it unfortunate that you chose to make public comments on issues about which you may feel dissatisfied, rather than seeking to have discussions with me, any member of team management or any other WICB official, we would like to give you the opportunity to explain your comments and the reasons for same," Hilaire wrote.

Only last Sunday, the WICB said they would also meet with former captain Chris Gayle to discuss controversial comments he made following his return from the World Cup in April.

The board said he would not be considered for selection for the India series until such time.