BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is seeking to find out the reasons that led the trio of Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard to recently turn down central retainer contracts.
“Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, who were both offered A contracts, and Kieron Pollard, who was offered a C contract, have indicated to the WICB that they were not minded to take up the offers,” the WICB said Wednesday.
“The WICB has written to Gayle, Bravo and Pollard seeking details of the issues which caused them not to take up the offer in an attempt to understand same and so that the issues can be addressed for future contract offers.”
Bravo and Pollard were the first players to reject the Board’s offer, choosing rather to go the route of being freelance cricketers. Neither player has offered a reason for their decision.
Gayle, the current West Indies captain, initially asked for an extension to the deadline set by the WICB for signing the contract but it emerged late Tuesday he had also snubbed the Board’s offer.
The WICB said the three players had indicated their commitment to West Indies cricket and reiterated that the possession of a retainer contract was not a prerequisite for selection to the regional squad.
Retainer contracts are offered on three tiers with Grade As worth an estimated US$120 000, Grade B deals $100 000 and Grade Cs, $80 000.