CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and former West Indies leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine must prove to the Guyana High Court, his authority to represent this country’s players in the upcoming Airtel Champions League T20 tournament in South Africa. The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), through its Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin, filed an injunction approximately two weeks ago, which restrained Ramnarine, WIPA and WIPMACOL from doing anything that is likely to interfere with the Guyana’s team participation in the Airtel CLT20.
Yesterday, both the plaintiff (GCB) and defendants (Ramnarine) made an in- chambers appearance in front of acting Chief Justice Ian Chang, where Ramnarine filed a submission querying whether the GCB was in a position to reimburse him financially.
“He (Ramnarine) is claiming he suffered financial loss and was querying whether the GCB was in a position to reimburse him,” said Datadin.
He added; “However, I told the judge that such a submission was wholly misconceived and without merit, as we view it as a delayed tactic so that the real issue which was the reason for the injunction, was not dealt with.”
Datadin further stated that whenever somebody or an individual is filing an injunction, they must be able to make an undertaking to the court and this was done by the GCB, but Ramnarine is saying it is insufficient.
“He (Ramnarine) is claiming that he will suffer financially and the submission speaks of him not WIPMACOL and WIPA. He is also contending that the harm he will suffer is irreparable and as a result the court ought to discharge the injunction because of the hardship he will suffer.
But our response has always been that the GCB is financially able and has given an undertaking in damages and if this is wrong then he will be entitled to damages and the GCB will pay him for damages if it is wrong and if it is not, he will have to pay the GCB’s cost.”
Datadin said the GCB was asking Ramnarine to produce the relevant contracts which can visibly state he has the authority to represent the players of the Guyana national team, something he has failed to execute up to yesterday.
“All he is doing is trying to interfere with the contracts, saying if the GCB did not do what he wanted them to do, he will have to do whatever he has to do and at the same time, tell the players what to do.
“The GCB never had an issue with the players, this action is all about Ramnarine, WIPA and WIPMACOL and if he wishes to take action against the players.
He sent a contract to the GCB which demands payments for the image rights of the players. In that contract, he alleges that the players do not own their own image rights and they have no power over it, he owns it.
This is a unique position as it is not a position where he owns it as an agent, this is where he owns it as the principle which means that the players cannot enter into a contract without his consent,” stated Datadin.
According to Datadin, the acting Chief Justice granted the GCB officials as much time as they wanted to respond to Ramnarine’s submissions, but knowing his client is within their legal rights, he said a reply can be made within seven days.
“We were allocated as much time as we want to respond to his submission which as I stated was a delay tactic. However and what may have surprised them is that I told the chief justice we can make a response in seven days, as I know my clients are within their legal rights, hence our next appearance on September 13.