PORT-OF-SPAIN, Sept 6: The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) have formally brought an end to the impasse that has plagued regional cricket for almost two years, with the signing of agreements relating to their outstanding issues.

A WICB release, following the regional cricket Development Workshop in Antigua, revealed both parties have signed the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Memorandum of Understanding and a Code of Conduct for players and officials, which should end the differences that have threatened or affected several tours over the past 22 months.

These agreements were, the statement quoted Dinanath Ramnarine, WIPA president, as saying, "The formal acknowledgement by the West Indies Cricket Board that the WIPA is a full partner in the process of taking West Indies cricket forward."

Gordon pointed out to the more than 50 representatives of stakeholder groups in regional cricket that the WICB was extremely aware of its responsibilities to the West Indian people and that "we have a board that genuinely wants to take cricket to a higher level, but we need help and institutional support". —Agencies