WIPA against Zimbabwe tourSaturday, June 16 2007
THE West Indies Players Association (WIPA) yesterday faced their latest confrontation with the WI Cricket Board over the upcoming “A” team tour of Zimbabwe.
WIPA yesterday informed the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) that in accordance with Article VI of the Memorandum of Understanding between WIPA and the WICB, they are not in support of the tour next month.
In a media release WIPA stated that the decision was reached following intensive discussions with various stakeholders and likely selectees who have unanimously expressed deep concern about the players’ safety and the continuing volatile situation existing in Zimbabwe.
They acknowledged the importance of the development of cricket but viewed the safety of players in an unsettled environment of greater importance.
According to the President of WIPA, Dinanath Ramnarine: “WIPA is sensitive to the obvious disappointment players selected would feel at the cancellation of the tour. However, we want to assure the Board that we will give every consideration to a similar tour in more favourable circumstances.”
The regional cricket authorities are awaiting an agreement from WIPA after getting the backing from CARICOM Heads of Government for the trip to politically troubled Zimbabwe next month to proceed,
Bruce Aanensen, the Chief Executive Officer of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), revealed this during a wide-ranging interview with CMC Sport.
A 14-man squad, to be led by middle-order batsman Sylvester Joseph, has already been picked to leave the Caribbean on June 30 for the one-month tour, which includes three four-day and two limited overs matches.
Investigations by CMC Sport have revealed that players have been contacted by their local boards over the last couple days for information on their passports.
“That is still the plan (for) the team to leave on the 30th of June. We did not get the response from the Caribbean Heads of Government until Wednesday afternoon of last week,” Aanensen said from the WICB’s headquarters in Antigua. “On receipt of that when we agreed that we could go ahead with the tour in so far as the Heads of Government were concerned, we sent out a proposal to WIPA, the terms and conditions of the tour and I am waiting on a response from WIPA at the moment to proceed with announcing the team for the tour.
“The team has been selected and it is just now a question of waiting on WIPA to confirm the terms and conditions that we have sent to them and as soon as we get that confirmation then we can make the announcement of the team,” Aanensen said.
