PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):
THE WEST Indies Cricket Board (WICB) confirmed in a press release yesterday that it will meet with the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) tomorrow in an attempt to complete retainer contracts negotiations.
The Cricket Committee of the WICB had declared last Wednesday that it fixed a deadline of Friday, 21st April 2006 for completion of retainer contract negotiations.
However, the WICB said a "further meeting" was held on Friday evening between Deryck Murray, of WICB's Cricket Committee, and WIPA Chief Executive Dinanath Ramnarine that did not lead to the parties agreeing on terms.
"This meeting was inconclusive and a further session was arranged for Tuesday, 25th April 2006," the WICB stated yesterday.
The WICB added that if arrangements are not finalized at that time (Tuesday), it would issue retainer contracts to the selected players and give them eight days to sign.
ALTERNATIVE PLAYERS
"These players will have until Wednesday May 3, 2006 to sign their contracts. Where contracts are not signed, alternative players will be selected," the WICB stated.
The regional governing body for the sport said the retainer contracts will be for a term of one year commencing May 2006 to April 2007.
The WICB is expected to also offer Match Tour contracts, separate from the (longer term) retainer contracts to the players today in an effort to assemble a squad in time for the first One-Day International (ODI) against Zimbabwe, on Saturday April 29.
On Friday, former WICB president, Reverend Wes Hall called on players to urgently find a solution, reminding them to consider their demands in light of the regional body's weakened financial state.
Differences remain between WIPA and the WICB over the monetary terms of the retainer contracts, with Ramnarine arguing that players would make less than before under the proposed terms.
In contrast, the Cricket Committee, headed by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, said the proposal made was "a good offer, fully competitive with other (International Cricket Council) Full Member countries of the world."
Zimbabwe are set to arrive this week with India to follow in May for four Tests and five ODIs.
