THE West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) has turned down the intervention of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) to assist in an ongoing dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).And the move has shocked the WICB.In a statement yesterday, the WICB said the offer was specifically to facilitate a final resolution to the matter of image rights which is presently the subject of arbitration.WIPA, however, turned down the offer, saying it prefers to stick to arbitration process to settle the matter.In expressing its disappointment with WIPA’s decision, the WICB also pointed to an earlier comment from WIPA which said “the WICB instead prefers to expend large sums of money in pursuing arbitration”.“The WICB finds it shocking that after it agreed to avoid arbitration and WIPA refused the collaborative intervention and assistance of ICC and FICA and insisted on pursuing arbitration that WIPA can accuse the WICB of preferring the route of arbitration,” the WICB said.“The WICB calls on WIPA to review its rejection of the joint ICC/FICA offer which is a golden opportunity for the two parties to reach final resolution after years of acrimonious relations.”The WICB added it was enthused by this offer and agreed, in full, to the joint ICC and FICA offer to intervene.“The WICB calls on WIPA to join in acting in the best interest of the game in the West Indies by dealing with the issues in a fair and balanced manner and to avoid an insistence on an antagonistic and confrontational approach to resolving the outstanding issues,” the WICB said.“Should WIPA insist on maintaining its rejection of the joint ICC/FICA offer the WICB will be left with no choice but to leave the public to judge – on the basis of the facts – and to determine which party actually prefers “to expend large sums of money in pursuing arbitration”.When contacted, WIPA president and chief executive officer Dinanath Ramnarine said a detailed release would be issued in the coming days. (HG/PR)
