IN RESPONSE to increasing pressure for the West Indies Cricket Board to dissolve and adopt a more progressive structure, the board has issued a statement defending its position and outlining that in its current structure it is beginning to effect change that has already begun to yield the desired results.Just this week, several former West Indies greats, including Garry Sobers, Viv Richards, Wes Hall and Andy Roberts have called upon the WICB to dissolve the board, in line with the CARICOM cricket review panel’s recommendation, and appoint an interim committee as part of the structural reforms that would enable the region’s cricket to “develop and flourish”.
Among those recommendations is that a 23-man oversight committee be appointed to oversee the operations of the board.
But the WICB has shot back saying it is against adding another layer to the existing body.
“The WICB has, over the last decade, commissioned several reports whose results have largely been implemented,” it said in its statement.
“The one recommendation that has not been favoured by the current or the previous board is the adding of another layer to the existing body. That has been the bane of contention in recent times with a few groups calling for the dissolution of the board.”
The WICB goes on to defend its existing model and its plan to get West Indies back to the pinnacle of world cricket.
That includes getting limited resources in order and spending where it is most needed.
“Restructuring in today’s sporting world simply means choosing the best model for the sport at the time. This may best be defined by the resultant effect of an economic impact model which clearly states that revenue-sharing is vital for all stakeholders.
In an ongoing effort, the WICB, in its financials, for the year ending September 30, 2015, reported a surplus (US$3.5M) which resulted in the deficit being reduced to just under US$2M,” it said.
Key to the plan to return the West Indies to international relevance was the implementation of its franchise system that it expected to begin to make an impact by transforming amateur players into full professionals.
“In 2014, the WICB rolled out its franchise system, which sought to “professionalise the game and revolutionise how players are engaged,” the statement said.
“This system added 90 professional players which play first-class cricket in the 50-overs and 4-Day format in addition to a partner for the Twenty20 – the Caribbean Premier League. Those leagues have shown tremendous potential from all involved. The opportunities for the next generation of players are to be discovered from this ongoing series of programmes.”
According to the WICB under the current model 15 men and 11 women are on retainer contracts. There are also 90 players on first-class retainers. The board has also implemented a regional women’s tournament.
There are also three main competitions in the domestic markets, including the Super50 competition, the 4-Day Professional Cricket League and the Caribbean Premier League – where players earn from a minimum of US$5 000 to a maximum of US$160 000.
Meantime, the WICB said it realises the role it has to play in the constantly changing environment in the business of cricket and just recently, at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in March set a team, led by Independent Director Don Wehby to reassess all the reports and to make recommendations to make the organisation more efficient.
The Board will also host its annual retreat in the early part of the summer with players, technical team, player representatives, management staff and directors to chart the way forward.
The primary focus for this year’s retreat, it said, will be to find workable solutions with regard to re-engagement of players, and how they fit into the existing high performance programme and to determine the most affordable remuneration packages.
The Board said it is committed to looking back at all the previous reports with a view to see which of the recommendations are suitable at this time, putting in place a firm and/or individual with the expertise to review the recommendations and manage the implementation and meet with its stakeholders to effect the changes.
The winning of three world titles is something the WICB believes is an accomplishment that has come as part of the high performance programme implemented just over two years ago, and drives home the point for the furtherance of the organisation.
“That there are small groups clamouring for the board’s dissolution is reason to ask … what more could a region want?”
“The acceptance of an average of 90 per cent of all the commissioned reports received which have been implemented minus adding another layer of bureaucracy cannot justify calling for the board to be dissolved,” the WICB said.
“Instead, the small groups should consider, among other things, promises made by Governments to contribute to the growth of cricket by hosting matches, international series, continuing to facilitate development which aids in the growth of sport, creating a more enabling environment for movement around the region, revitalising cricket in the schools across the region, as well as assisting in the setting up of territorial academies.”
The WICB said it has been living up to its end of the bargain and has called upon the naysayers and the stakeholders to have faith in what is being done.
“The global sports industry is going through constant change and so are all the sporting disciplines. One thing that is sure, though, is that organisations are moving towards being more efficient in their structure to be able to ease decision-making and to create the most effective model for business,” it said.
“The Board, so far, has lived up to its promises, and while that is being done, let’s trust the process.” (Sportsmax.com)