July 20, 2007	Friday	Rajab 04, 1428

PORT-OF-SPAIN, July 19: The ongoing tussle between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) continued on Wednesday with the association accusing the board of unilateral decision-making.

In a media release signed by President and CEO Dinanath Ramnarine, WIPA criticised the regional board for “this unilateral process that the WICB continues to insist on taking in deciding what is to be or not to be...", which WIPA cannot accept”.

Ramnarine was referring to Monday’s announcement by the WICB that they had agreed to a five-year extension of the current sponsorship contract with Digicel, until 2012. The deal is reportedly worth US $4 million without any deductions.

The statement said: “while WIPA is pleased to know that the WICB is always looking for ways to improve its finances through its sponsors or any other company”, the lack of consultation with the players was a blatant breach of the Memorandum of Understanding between both parties.

Ramnarine added: “This (recent unilateral action/absence of consultation) by the WICB continues to undermine the maintenance and strengthening of good relations between both parties.

Furthermore, WIPA is now forced to pay more careful attention to the protection of the players’ intellectual property rights,” the release continued.

The WIPA head referred to Article 11 of the MOU, which he said made it quite clear that prior consultation with WIPA is necessary before any such sponsorship agreement is signed. —Agencies