PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Lendl Simmons and the West Indies Players’ Association have both failed to meet with officials of the West Indies Cricket Board over outstanding issues.
The WICB has responded to a Trinidad & Tobago Guardian newspaper report that indicated that WIPA was on the warpath with the regional governing body again over the issue of Simmons’ non-selection to the West Indies senior and A-Team squads for recent and upcoming assignments.
The newspaper reported yesterday that WIPA Executive President Dinanath Ramnarine confirmed his organisation had taken up the Simmons issue. “Yes we have taken up the issue of Lendl Simmons not being allowed to avail himself of the principles of natural justice,” he told the newspaper.
“We are also dealing with similar matters concerning Ramnaresh Sarwan and Narsingh Deonarine.”
WIPA has alleged that the WICB has breached a number of terms under the central retainer contract, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding between the two sides in the way it has dealt with the Simmons matter, as well as the snubbing of Sarwan and Deonarine for central retainer contracts.
Ramnarine hopes to have a meeting soon with WICB chief executive Ernest Hilaire about the matter, following notice to the regional governing body that WIPA was invoking the “grievance procedure” clause in accordance with Article IX of the player’s central retainer contract.
WICB Corporate Communications Officer Imran Khan welcomed Ramnarine’s willingness to meet on this and other outstanding issues. “Since September, the WICB has been writing to WIPA seeking a meeting with Simmons to discuss any concerns or issues he might have,” Khan told CMC Sports Wire.
“WIPA has refused to agree to such a meeting, instead stating that the parties must proceed to mediation.
“WICB is of the view that the most logical and beneficial course is to sit with Simmons – whether he is accompanied by WIPA or not – and discuss with him cricketing matters, and remains open to doing so.”
Khan disclosed that the WICB has never received any correspondence from Simmons, although the regional body did receive a letter from WIPA on his behalf in April.
”As communicated to WIPA in response to that letter, the WICB can confirm that Chairman of the Selection Committee Clyde Butts contacted Simmons in May, and organised a meeting with him in Trinidad to discuss matters regarding his performance and general behaviour,” said Khan.
“Simmons agreed to this critical meeting regarding his profession, and dutifully promised to attend, but failed to do so, and offered no explanation for his non-attendance either to Butts or the WICB.
“We have not heard from Simmons himself since, instead WIPA has been communicating on his behalf.”
Khan observed it is the normal course of action for players to not be selected, following performances deemed unsatisfactory.
He explained that Simmons had scored 277 runs from 13 innings at an average of 25.18 since he was dropped from West Indies, and it would appear that the Selection Committee believed the player’s performances did not warrant a place on either the West Indies or West Indies A-Team ahead of other players selected. “There has been only one hundred and no other scores over 50,” said Khan. “The WICB hopes that Simmons endeavours to improve upon these statistics in the ensuing months to prove to the selectors, that based on his performances as a batsman, he is worthy of being recalled to the West Indies team.
”We are heartened however, that Simmons appears concerned that he has not been selected to the West Indies team, and take that as a sign that Simmons is keen on committing himself to ensuring that his performances and all other aspects of his cricket are of a high standard worthy of consideration by the Selection Committee.”
The Guardian indicated that Simmons, who also bowls steady medium-pace and can keep wicket, has suffered financially, following his non-selection to the West Indies team, and his standard of living had been adversely affected.
