BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The West Indies Players Association has hit back at the West Indies Cricket Board, as the war of words between the two bodies continued yesterday.
In a media statement, WIPA denied charges it attacked the WICB’s policies and aired its issues in the media, while standing by statements it made regarding injured fast bowler Fidel Edwards and potential legal issues surrounding the Test tour of Australia late last year.
On Friday, WICB chief executive Ernest Hilaire had issued a stinging response to comments made by WIPA chief Dinanath Ramnarine during a radio sports show here last week.
“WIPA does not attack WICB policies when it cannot get its way. WIPA attacks no one, but merely states the facts. An examination of the past year will reveal in fact that WIPA has said little to the press,” the WIPA statement said.
“In WIPA’s view it is not about any party getting its way but rather a question of honouring agreements, properly representing the players and doing its best for the good of West Indies cricket. WIPA cannot and will not act as a rubber stamp for the WICB.”
Hilaire had also refuted criticism that Edwards had been badly treated by the Board, noting that the WICB had agreed to pay the player’s medical bills.
WIPA said, however, it was not aware of these developments and had only shared the information which it had.
“With respect to Fidel Edwards, the information which WIPA has is the information which it shared in the media, as the promised response from the WICB’s CEO was not forthcoming,” the statement said.
“WIPA will however now continue its investigations on the matter since the WICB has now provided this information via the media.”
WIPA said it also stood by its claims that Cricket Australia would have sued the WICB if a second string team was sent to Australia last year for the Test series.
“WIPA stands by its claim in respect of Cricket Australia and ICC as this is the information that was provided to WIPA by the WICB prior to the signing of the New York Agreement,” the statement noted.
The New York Agreement was the deal struck between WIPA and the WICB which ended the standoff in last year’s bitter contracts dispute
