WEST INDIES' team sponsor Digicel refused to accept proposed measures for a solution to the regional cricket crisis as submitted by the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on cricket pertaining to items a, b, c, d, e, and f.
In a release issued by its Corporate Communications Manager Maureen Rabbitt yesterday evening, the communications entity said:
"Digicel does not accept the arbitration process as suggested by the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on cricket
pertaining to items a, b, c, d, e, and f.
"This was conveyed to the committee last Monday, as this will only allow
continued ambush marketing by Cable & Wireless of the title sponsorship rights that Digicel has in its contract with the WICB and yet another extension of this situation."
Continuing, it said: "Rather than
supporting the further growth of West Indies cricket, C&W have chose to invest US$500,000 in sponsoring a select group of individual players in the full knowledge that this is unacceptable to the title
sponsors Digicel and would comprise their welcomed investment in West Indies cricket."
DELIBERATE SIGNING
The statement also said Cable & Wireless deliberately signed six additional West Indies players, with full knowledge that it would have caused problems for the West Indies Cricket Board.
"Having decided not to match the unprecedented five-year US$ 20m
sponsorship package which Digicel was prepared to undertake and while
negotiations were taking place, C&W deliberately signed six players to personal sponsorship contracts coinciding with Digicel taking over as title sponsor of West Indies cricket team.
"C&W did this in the full knowledge that their actions would create great difficulty for the WICB, the six players and the title sponsor, Digicel."
It added: "In regard to Mr. Brian Lara, Digicel, concurrent with its negotiations to take over the title sponsorship of the West Indies cricket team, approached
representatives of Mr. Lara and offered Mr. Lara an enhanced individual sponsorship contract when his existing contract with C&W was due to end in September 2005.
"This approach to representatives of Mr. Lara was made in an effort to solve the contract issue and in the interests of West Indies cricket. Unfortunately these efforts were not responded to and in 2004 Mr. Lara extended his C&W contract to a period beyond 2005."
ELIMINATION OF PLAYERS
The Digicel statement also supported the position taken by the WICB last week Friday, to eliminate seven players with Cable & Wireless contracts from the team.
It said: "The WICB have taken responsibility to create a team structure that preserves the integrity of the game and provides value to the organizations and fans that are
supporting West Indies cricket.
"We are hopeful that the West Indies Cricket Board's actions will help move West Indies cricket forward in a positive manner. As both parties continue their discussions, we remain respectful of the process that works towards a resolution and continue to be engaged in constant dialogue in an effort to assist a positive outcome."
