Cricket West Indies (CWI) has begun processing payments for a number of international cricketers but match fees for the West Indies Championship remain outstanding.
So says CWI’s Chief Executive Officer, Johnny Grave, who offered clarity on the issue when contacted by Stabroek Sport.
“At the moment processing payments for our women and men international players,” Grave stated.
He also indicated that in upcoming days, the female cricketers will be paid for the T20 World Cup in Australia while the men will receive payments for Ireland and Sri Lanka tours all held earlier this year.
Grave admitted that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has made it even more difficult to keep the organisation’s head above water and, as a result, admitted that they are yet to pay match fees for the West Indies Championships.
“We are still owing the players who took part in the West Indies Championships but this will be done, although I cannot put a definite timeline on it at the moment,” he stated
In an earlier interview, Grave admitted CWI owed players their match fees dating back to January despite the tournament prematurely ending two months ago. However, salaries have been kept up to date amidst the pandemic.
Grave was reported as saying that the financial blow the pandemic has had on the CWI is not as severe as it could be.
The final two rounds of the West Indies Championships, as well as the Regional Under-15 tournament, has been cancelled.
Recently, CWI President, Ricky Skerritt also spoke of the body’s financial situation.
Skerritt told Guardian Media Sports, “This crisis has put our already poor financial state into ICU. It is like going to the doctor with an illness, and as he is about to prescribe the medication you get a stroke.”
According to Grave, CWI’s income is divided into three streams with the International Cricket Council (ICC) accounting for 40 percent, Television (TV) attracting a similar percentage, and sponsorship, responsible for 20 percent.
