Hinds puts players' views in contract dispute

Former West Indies international Wavell Hinds has added his voice to those critical of the way the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has handled dealings with its players.

"I am very disappointed in the statements I have seen coming from the WICB which certainly do not represent the issues as I know them to be," Hinds, who is currently playing for Derbyshire, said. "They've attempted to paint our players in a particular light while I know that there are a number of fundamental issues that the WICB have failed to address repeatedly that go to the core of any contractual relationship.

"I cannot sit idly by and not comment when there seems to be a great deal of misinformation in the public domain. Fortunately the public knows how the WICB has conducted its affairs and should be in a position to judge if and when all the facts are available to them and the public knows who has been most transparent on this issue."

"I am seeing the WICB's position and I am flabbergasted since … I sat for almost 14 hours and arrived at an agreement on Retainer Contracts, Fees for First Class Cricketers and Injury Payments among other things on April 2 in St. Lucia. I am at a loss to understand the WICB's current stance on its agreements with the West Indies Players' Association.

"While many people have supported the stand taken by the players, there are some who seem to believe that the players should accept this kind of treatment. However, I wish to make it abundantly clear that all persons should be treated with respect and that is what our players want.

Hinds said that despite being in England, he had followed events closely and believed there was solidarity among the players. "How much do [the WICB] really care about the players who represent the West Indies team? Do they care about the public, the sponsors and key stakeholders or is there something else that we should know about?

"When the first-class players did not take the field earlier this year, many were kicked out of their hotels but I note that the WICB has seen it fit to finance full page ads in many newspapers. Is this a statement on their priorities? They need to answer those questions and a number of others. The WICB needs to be accountable and transparent and to honour their agreements with the players. The players have had enough.

Hinds explained his belief that the WICB's claim the players were in breach of agreements "would do very little to improve the relationship between board and players". He continued: "This approach by the WICB may be taken as very confrontational. I can say without fear of contradiction that WIPA stands ready and willing to negotiate with the WICB to resolving all of the outstanding issues but will not be bullied in anyway by the WICB."