KOLKATA – Stating he has gone out of his way on several occasions to “reach out” to the players, president of the West Indies Cricket Board Dave Cameron has called on them for an attitude of compromise.
Speaking to the India media, Cameron said there was a need for discussion between the two parties to resolve the longstanding feud that has existed between them since he got elected in March 2013.
The Indian tour boycott in October 2014, threat of pullouts over payment disputes ahead of numerous series and tournaments, differences among the board, selectors and the head coach are some of the headlines that have persisted during Cameron’s presidency which is into its second term after he was re-elected last March.
The biggest point of contention is that the players have refused to sign the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) put together by the WICB under Cameron and the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA). The players say they stand to lose a lot of money and want to revert to the previous arrangement.
Recently, Sammy said the players were unhappy with the remuneration offered by the WICB to participate in the World Twenty20 Tournament. A sum of $27,600 for the entire tournament including the final was a “staggering reduction”, he had said. He also did not understand why the WICB could not “figure out” how much 25 per cent of the participation fee for playing in the ICC tournaments would amount to.
Cameron said he was happy to explain to Sammy and the team how the remuneration had been worked out.
“Even if I give them a million dollars they will still say it is not fair. One has to be reasonable,” Cameron said. “We need to compromise. We need to have a discussion. That is what I have been saying to them, ‘Let us sit down and let me explain to you where we are at.’ We have given up the two best months of our year for cricket – April and May. We are not playing any cricket because we have allowed them to come over to India and play in the IPL. Some of them are making $500,000, a million, a million and a half. Great. We have sacrificed that two months for you.
“We only have 52 weeks in a year. If you want to play Big Bash, Ram Slam and all those T20 tournaments, then we also need you to bring back the information and the experience to our players back home and also our sponsors who are sponsoring our tournaments who want to have our stars back home. You can’t want to play everywhere, the WICB has to call on your services either domestic or international, but then you want the WICB to pay you a nice, big, fat retainer.”
According to Sammy, West Indies are the best in the T20 format, a fact underlined by their second World T20 title, and hence he failed to understand why he and others who play only T20Is now were not given a contract. Cameron disagreed.
“Why would I retain you to play three-four matches a year? What are you doing for the WICB outside of playing two-three T20Is a year? We have to have some kind of consciousness about that,” Cameron said. “Unfortunately, the truth is I have reached out to the players, I have reached out to them individually. I have reached them through Jason [Holder, West Indies Test captain].”
Cameron pointed out that players, especially the seniors, were not “forthcoming” whenever he tried to talk to them about finding a way out. “They haven’t been forthcoming. It is interesting that Darren Sammy has these views and rightly so since it affects him personally,” Cameron said. “But we are running the sport. We can’t focus on any one player. And that is part of the mistakes we have been making for a very, very long time.”
Cameron was in India when West Indies reached the knockouts. He was in Nagpur when West Indies lost to Afghanistan in their final group match and he was in Mumbai when they beat India. In fact, he was staying in a hotel adjacent to the team hotel. Yet, he did not visit the players. Asked if such a move could be perceived as a sign of being closed and arrogant, Cameron disagreed. “But I am available, I have told them that,” he said. “I have told them directly. I have told them through the manager that I am available. They are next door in the Trident.”
He then pointed out that he had gone out of his way on more than one occasion, including having dinner with the players on the 2014-15 South Africa tour, to reach out to the team. Incidentally, most of the senior players were not present at that dinner, a fact Cameron conceded.
In Mumbai, Cameron said he had “not met all of them”, a move he called “deliberate” because he felt he would distract them. “They are staying next door. I haven’t been around them too much. And that is very, very deliberate. That’s very, very deliberate. I am staying next door, and not in the same hotel as well because sometimes players get a little nervous when the management is around them. They probably feel a little defensive. I don’t want to feel like I am spying on them. No, man, the relationship is good. It is where it needs to be, which is I’m the president of the organisation. They are the stars and they know that the WICB is supporting them in winning these tournaments.”
Cameron also dismissed the perception that the team won the World T20 despite the WICB.
“Despite! Well, I don’t know how you get ‘despite’,” he said. “So who is the team representing here (laughs)? So it can’t be despite of. Winning the WT20 or being here in WT20 is because of what the WICB has done. The players here, where did they come from?”
TALK? Let us talk??? No one is interested in talking, Sir! What everyone is interested in is seeing your backs as you walk out the door and out of the business of cricket…for good!
This Guy seem to be suffering from Narcissistic Self-Destructive Syndrome (NSDS), an offshoot of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. IF THIS GUY and the ENTIRE WICB do not disappear swiftly from the cricketing landscape then we are in for more puerile gimmicks. The Caribbean people must be saved from shame, disgrace, disrespect and impairment of the psyche and destruction of the will to succeed.
The Caribbean has suffered enough psychologically, emotionally, mentally, socially, financially and otherwise including the mistrust and suspicion that still persist in the region and internationally. We must restore and preserve our cricketing dignity and reputation, yea – our very image as West Indians whom the world must take seriously!!
THe WICB’s “macaqucrie, koshonie and bagai sort” has caused many to refer to us as brainless. This Narcissistic Self-Destructive Syndrome (NSDS) and the disease of “DISHONORITIS” must be eradicated completely.
The issue is that, we make the money England, Aussies and India make during a series. But we do not pay our players the same as theirs. Now, if the ipl pays a million for six weeks n u pay 25000 then I’m sorry, but patriotism don’t “pay my bills”. To quote mr Cameron himself. As per his Twitter account. At least pay them man like a little 50000 to 100000. We make 50-100m per series. Where the money going? And mr Cameron, ever heard of get paid as u play contracts? Plus, I’m sure if the players were treated right they’d have more inventive to play for wi. For example, if I’m miserable at work I’m likely to leave. Even if where I go to mean I take a slight pay cut. But them man underpaid, then u still treat them badly. And another thing, what is your salary including bonuses???
Mister man just step down. You sound arrogant indeed.
Sorry Mr Cameron…you sound delusional when you say, quote ” No, man, the relationship is good. It is where it needs to be.
It is not…you could not even congratulate our winning team, which was being hailed by the cricketing world,
until you were criticized for not doing so.
That smacks of the arrogance and pettiness that you are accused of.
But yes, “lets talk”.
Sorry Mr Cameron…you sound delusional if you say, quote ” No, man, the relationship is good. It is where it needs to be”
It is not…. you could not even congratulate our winning team, hailed by the cricketing world….that smacks of the arrogance you are accused of.
But yes its time to talk.
Apologies for the double post…thought it did not go thru….but it was actually waiting moderation by DNO
Sorry.
Aye y’all, below is an excellent article on Cricinfo that removes some of the cloudiness around the issues around West Indies cricket.
We have only been hearing from the anti-WICB faction and people are reacting to these absolutley ill-timed statements from Sammy & Dwayne Bravo based on emotions, ignorance of facts and an apparent underlying dislike for persons in authority in whatever organisation.
Folks, please check out the following – http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/995363.html
P.S. – Aye DNO, maybe you all might want to consider posting the above link in a separate news item by itself.
Yes… great article to justly give Cameron a chance to fully state his side of the story, which is just fine.
However he continues to be arrogant even in that interview. He said…
“Even if I give them a million dollars they will still say it is not fair. ”
That is a man without an axe to grind? that is a man who is being seasonable?
Finally do you have any facts to make the allegation you make above that
Sammy and Bravo have “an apparent underlying dislike for persons in authority in whatever organisation.’
Where is the evidence to support such a sweeping allegation?
Cameron you and the entire board needs to resign,these guys have made the entire caribbean proud,pack you all bags and get stepping.