All-rounder Ryan Hinds yesterday defended his absence from the Guyana Jaguars team ahead of the upcoming Professional Cricket League (PCL), saying that he requested a copy of his contract to be sent before he left his job to come.
Hinds and countryman Javon Searles were selected by the local franchise a few months ago as part of the Jags 15-man team ahead of the 2015/16 Professional Cricket League (PCL) four-day season. Searles arrived in Guyana and began his training but Hinds’ position was unclear until sources from Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) told Stabroek Sports on Tuesday, that the Barbadian would not be a part of the team’s campaign this season due to other commitments.
When Stabroek Sports contacted Hinds yesterday, he said that he is three months into his job at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and has not seen the contract as yet and therefore could not leave his newly-acquired job to travel to Guyana just to review a contract.
Hinds said that he was told the when he arrives in Guyana he will see the contract, thus resulting in his decision to remain home in Barbados.
“I’m recently employed at UWI, three months into my job, I informed the franchise about my work commitments and I also made it clear that I was not leaving until I received my contract from Guyana. I can’t just up and leave my job for 8 or 9 months without a contract”.
“I made it very, very clear and I hid nothing from them, I have spoken to my management and a lawyer at length, I made it clear I am not leaving until I receive a contract”, said Hinds who stated that he was just trying to secure his future and he wasn’t going to leave “sure for unsure” especially after he did not get to see the contract and what it entailed.
The former West Indies Test player explained that he had applied for the job at UWI and while waiting for a response he sought to get back into the game he loved and made himself available for the draft. He stated that shortly after being drafted by the Jaguars he was given the nod by UWI to commence work, which he did on June 1st.
The left-hander said that while he “loves cricket” and is “very happy to represent Guyana…I have a family and a home to look after”, declaring that in honouring his contract he is willing to make himself available to train and play for the season as permission was given by the UWI to take time from work to play cricket.
Hinds said that he wants persons to be aware of the situation and his position with regards to CGI being informed that he would be given special consent to honour his stint with the defending four-day champs.
As a result of the situation the all-rounder is now likely facing a one-year ban once the matter is addressed by the West Indies Cricket Board but he said that while he believed he should not face such a penalty given the nature of the situation, there is nothing that he can do. (Clifton Ross)
