The Windies are coming - for now

Times Media

TELFORD VICE, Cape Town

THE Windies are coming. At least, that’s how matters stand regarding their tour to SA in December and January.

A dispute over money between West Indian players, their player association and their board led to the Windies abandoning their visit to India last month.

The consequences of that action could be catastrophic for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), who could be sued for US$41.97-million by the Board of Control for Cricket in India - who have reportedly demanded that the WICB also cough up half of the US$100-million they are expected to earn from the 2015-23 international cricket rights cycle.

Those are powerful incentives for the West Indians to avoid walking out of future tours, starting with their next engagement: the three tests, five one-day internationals and three T20s they are due to play in SA.

Tony Irish, the executive chair of the Federation of Cricketers’ Associations and the chief executive of the SA Cricketers’ Association, said yesterday progress had been made during talks between the parties and that “processes are in place” to resolve the issues.

“The players have said they will make themselves available and the board have said they will not victimise the players,” Irish said on Tuesday.

“Unless something else happens, the tour will go ahead. You never really know (until they arrive) but it looks pretty positive.”

Irish said a dispute over the US35 000 in image rights the West Indian players were to have shared for each day of cricket they play abroad - the product of an agreement between the cricketers and the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) that has since been changed to the players’ financial detriment - had been sent to arbitration.

Also, Irish said, the WICB and the WIPA have agreed to renegotiate the distribution of revenue West Indies will earn from the 2015 World Cup.