Windies Impasse … Players reject pay cut ahead of T20 World Cup
A year and half after the regional team called off a tour to India, there is fresh controversy in West Indies cricket as the players are now opposed to a pay cut ahead of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup. Members of the West Indies squad are demanding that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) improve the financial terms of their contracts for the tournament and have requested an urgent meeting ahead of the March 8 – April 3 competition, set for India. The concerns, which centres around a 75 per cent-pay cut were outlined in a letter from team captain Darren Sammy to the WICB, which among other things, pointed to a fall-off in guaranteed earnings from the tournament compared to previous arrangements. The players are demanding 100 per cent of prize money and a doubling of match fees, which currently stand at $6,900. Fourteen of the 15 members selected to represent the West Indies in India next month are yet to sign their contracts for the tournament with the deadline set for February 14, 2016 and Sammy, who rejected the credibility of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), made it clear that the WIPA negotiated terms will not be accepted by the players. One player on the squad has already signed the WICB’s Twenty20 World Cup contract with Sulieman Benn reportedly putting pen to paper. Referring to a US$8-million ICC payment received by the WICB, Sammy urged the Board to revert to a previous remuneration package, which saw players earning 25 per cent of income received by the WICB for participation in ICC tournaments. He noted that under the previous deal, players would be guaranteed US$133,000 as opposed to the US$27,600 under the current terms if they play in all official matches. “We have collectively discussed the remuneration on offer to participate in the T20 World Cup. Considering that 14 out of the 15 man squad are not part of WIPA – and hence have not given authorisation to WIPA to negotiate on our behalf – and a large number do not receive any significant remuneration from WICB at all, we want the opportunity to negotiate fairly the financial terms within the contract,” Sammy’s letter stated. The 2015 World Cup took place with the WI squad remunerated under the terms and conditions that had been in place for the World Cups previous – that is 25 per cent of income received by the WICB for participating in the tournament was distributed to the squad,” Sammy letter was quoted. However, in a response, WICB CEO Michael Muirhead, underlined that the organisation will only negotiate with WIPA on compensation matters, while outlining that the ICC’s new payment cycle which now sees an eight-year distribution arrangement replacing lump sum payments, means that the WICB cannot identify exactly how much it will be paid in relation to the World Twenty20. “… It is not possible to calculate a percentage to be paid to the Squad, as the ICC distribution is no longer being made in the traditional manner. The WICB, in recognition of this, and in an effort at fairness and transparency, allocates 25 per cent of WICB revenues estimated over a four – year period – including ICC distributions – to players, through a guaranteed minimum revenue pool, out of which player payments are made,” he said. “Anything in excess of this minimum over the relevant 4 – year cycle, will be divided solely among the international players, as agreed with WIPA,” added Muirhead’s response to Sammy. Muirhead also noted that the match fee is three times the usual fee and also noted that players would receive 50 percent net of sponsorship generated for the event and 80 percent of prize money, which has seen an 86 percent increase. In an interview with Hitz 92FM yesterday afternoon, Muirhead also noted that they are prepared to send other players to the T20 World Cup if contracts aren’t signed by the February 14 deadline. There were indications that things were coming to a head when suggestive Instagram posts were made by Sammy and Dwyane Bravo. Bravo, in a post with himself, Samuel Badree, Andre Russell and Sammy, stated: “If U all have any idea what’s going on an what we thinking again sad times but lets see how this one will end.”
North West St Ann, Eastern St Andrew, among other constituencies, are areas of concern for Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) spokesperson, Kamina Johnson Smith, who indicated that she was extremely concerned about the slow pace at which the voting process was going. Speaking with The Gleaner a short while ago, she used the opportunity to encourage electors to be patient, indicating that she was still confident of a victory. “We are having lots of complaints of chronic slow voting, in particular Central St Mary, Eastern Hanover, North West St Ann, Eastern St Andrew, South West St Elizabeth, and Northern Clarendon. We are also hearing about intimidation at the Harbour View Primary School,” Johnson Smith stated. “In respect to the slow voting, I would just love to get the message out to the people that if they are in the line, they should really try to be patient with the process. Even if it’s a little frustrating, they should take the time. If you are in the line at 5 o’clock, you are still entitled to vote. I encourage voters to stick to it.”
The West Indies Players Association (WIPA) has revealed that, over the years, the organisation has facilitated workshops intended to inform its members of the demands of the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) code of conduct. WIPA issued its statement on Wednesday, the same day it was announced that West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell had violated a WADA code. The association said that it has held several anti-doping workshops across the six major Caribbean cricketing territories. “The West Indies Players’ Association, through our player-development workshops, has imparted knowledge in 15 different workshops across the region over the last two years,” the statement said. “Our player resource officers, (PROs) have facilitated these workshops with the six franchises in the WICB Professional Cricket League from its inception in 2014. “One of the main items covered in the 15 workshops is the World Anti-Doping Code,” the WIPA statement said. WIPA added that it remained committed to continuous training and development of its members. “WIPA’s PROs would have explained in full detail the different mandatory filings that are expected of each athlete and the repercussions of failing to correctly complete the said required filings,” it stated. One of the most sought-after players in Twenty20 cricket globally, Russell faces the prospect of a two-year ban after missing three mandatory “out-of-competition” or “whereabouts” drug tests over a one-year period. The drug tests were to be carried out by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission. Russell is currently with the West Indies squad in the United Arab Emirates, where he is preparing for the Twenty20 World Cup later this month in India.
Previous success in China BEIJING, China: President of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), Dr Warren Blake, seemed less than pleased with some high-profile late arrivals to the team’s training camp in Tottori, Japan, ahead of the IAAF World Championships. In spite of this, he is looking forward to a fruitful return to Beijing, China, where the championships will unfold this weekend. Several top-name athletes such as Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and other members of MVP did not arrive until late last week, citing documentation issues. Usain Bolt, who was expected to join last Friday, was reportedly allowed to meet his teammates in Beijing instead. The entire team expected to be in the city today. This comes as JAAA continues to insist on the mandatory nature of the camp. “Ideally, it would have been great if all the athletes, from all the training groups, saw it as their duty, their national duty, to come to the camps on time. In fact, most of the athletes did turn up at the camp, but others didn’t come at the start, for various reasons, and some of these reasons I feel could have been avoided,” Blake said, without pointing to specific situations. “We still use the term ‘mandatory’ and we still insist that if they are going to be coming in late, for any reasons then we should be informed, and we should have discussions so that an amicable agreement can be reached, and not just ignore the camp totally,” he added. “To just ignore the camp and our wishes, as an association, would create problems.” Blake suggested that the situations with Bolt and the MVP group’s late arrivals were communicated to the management team. Meanwhile, at the 2008 Olympic Games, which was also hosted in the Chinese city, Jamaica underlined its place as a giant in the track and field arena with an impressive 11-medal haul, which included six gold, three silver and two bronze-led by a virtuoso performance from Usain Bolt, who broke three world records and went on to become the face of the sport. Blake, who arrived in Beijing after 8 p.m. on Monday (7 a.m., Monday, Jamaica time), along with JAAA general secretary, Garth Gayle, said he expects the Jamaicans to have similar success. “Beijing is where our recent successes in track and field started,” said Blake. “I know the foundations were laid long ago, but we really burst on to the world scene in a really strong way in 2008. “So we have been looking forward to coming back to Beijing and we expect good results as we did in 2008,” said Blake, who was also quick to point to the team’s more diverse look this time around. “One of the thrust of this administration has been to broaden the scope of participation in these events, and I am quite happy to see that, especially in the field events, where we have placed a great deal of effort, that we have had significant successes,” he added. “We have three male discus throwers qualifying, a male shot put thrower, a female discus thrower and two triple jumpers, and I think we are doing pretty well in the field events.” The World Championships get underway on August 22 and ends August 30.
Richard White and Glenn Lawrence were the toast of the ninth annual Couples Negril Charity Golf Tournament, which was held at the Negril Hills Golf Club in Westmoreland on Sunday.The pair, who carded the best overall net score, won the two-man scramble event ahead of Errol Williams and Dennis Jones, and Glenroy Walker and Murine Blake.”It was a competitive challenge and, at the end, it feels good to come out on top,” said Lawrence.”We have been close in previous years, but this year, we said we wanted to win, and played to win.”The tournament, which attempted and raised $1.2m for a number of local charities in the area, also had other sectional winners. Top among them was the best-overall gross score and closest to the pin challenges. Ian Royal and Steve Richards took home the gross score title, while many-time national female champion Maggie Lyn was one of four closest to the pin victors. The others were Bobby Vertullo, Donald Anderson and Maurice Foster.Lyn, who pointed out that the tournament is one that she always looks forward to participating in, said she wanted to do better this year.”The greens were very challenging as we are not used to the greens being so slow,” said Lyn.”We had to really put a lot of emphasis in our shots, and when we tried to hit it hard, it wasn’t easy to put. But, overall, the course was in good condition, and we enjoyed it.”Lawrence, meanwhile, who is also chief executive officer of Couples Negril, said he was pleased with the staging of the event.”It is good to see again a good turn-out for what is a worthy cause,” he said.”We take giving back to our community very seriously, and to know that lives will be changed as a result of this tournament makes us feel good.”The charities that are slated to benefit from this year’s event are Clifton Boys’ Home in Darliston, Westmoreland, and Grange Hill Primary School, also in the parish.Main sponsors of the event include Digicel Solutions, Cable and Wireless, Caribbean Producers, Inter-Brand, VIP Attractions, NCB, and First Caribbean Bank.
WESTERN BUREAU:Malique Campbell fired in an 86th-minute goal to give St James High a 1-0 win over Lacovia High in their daCosta Cup Group P quarter-final match yesterday at Jarrett Park.It is proving difficult to sort out the group, as Manchester High matched St James by logging a 3-1 victory over Paul Bogle High, as all four teams now have four points from two matches.The game was never shaping up to be a thriller from the get-go, but St James should have won more comfortably, having dominated the contest. They were rather unlucky not to break the deadlock in the 15th minute and then had to ride some luck of their own.On 29 minutes, Lacovia forward Oshane Staple smashed a right-footed effort towards goal, but found Aian Miller in goal for St James in terrific form, as he twisted in mid-air to tip the ball onto the crossbar.That was the closest Lacovia came to scoring. Thereafter, it was practically all St James. The only thing lacking was a goal.However, they did get the breakthrough, and it came at an opportune time, just before the 90 minutes expired, when Campbell scored from the top of the 18-yard box.Meanwhile, defending champions Clarendon College returned to winning ways with a resounding and crucial 2-0 beating of Glenmuir High at Juici Field.It was a good win, but still sees them behind the eight ball in a very competitive group, which is led by Rusea’s High, on goal difference, over Dinthill Technical, after both schools played to an entertaining 3-3 draw.Much-needed winThe results mean that Clarendon College will need to win their final group match on November 11 against Rusea’s High and hope that Glenmuir can hold Dinthill to a draw, if they are to prolong the defence of their title.St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) again proved how devastating they can be, by whipping Vere Technical 6-3 in Santa Cruz.Their red-hot striker, Michael ‘Diddy’ Kerr, took toll with a superb hat-trick, while midfield genius Shawn Genus was also on target for STETHS, who now lead Group R on maximum six points from two matches. Kerr now has 25 goals for the season.The next set of matches on November 11 will determine the teams to advance to the semi-final round.Yesterday’s ResultsDinthill 3 Rusea’s 3Seaforth 0 Lennon 2STETHS 6 Vere 3Mannings 2 Marcus Garvey 0St James 1 Lacovia 0Glenmuir 0 Clarendon Coll 2Manchester 3 Paul Bogle 1
A thanksgiving service for the life of the late trainer Harry Parsard will be held on Thursday, September 1 at the Constant Spring Church of Christ, 2 Mannings Avenue, starting at 1 p.m.Parsard died after a short illness on Tuesday, August 16 at age 79.The veteran was a stalwart of the racing industry in his capacities as owner, trainer and breeder. He was also an executive member of both the United Racehorse Trainers’ Association (URTA) and Racehorse Owners’ Association.At the time of his death, he was the second vice-president of the UTRA.Above all, Parsard interacted with members of the racing fraternity on a day to day basis as the main supplier of hay and horse feeds to his many clients. He was the owner of a large hay farm in Clarendon as well.In recent years, Parsard, in collaboration with his son Ian, made an indelible mark in grade one races with the 2014 champion sprinter and Gold Cup winner POTCHEEN, UPPA TUNE and PETE’SWILDONE, not to mention the consistent American filly LONG RUNNING TRAIN.But despite their success, Parsard in an interview last year admitted that his greatest training feat was saddling the 35-1 outsider SUPERLUMINAL to win the 2015 Jamaica St. Leger, beating the derby winner SEEKING MY DREAM in the process.Having worked with the British Railways while living in England 40 years ago, Parsard named many of his horses after his previous occupation – LONG RUNNING TRAIN, ORIGINAL TRAIN, GRAND TRAIN, CITY TRAIN, DR TRAIN, WAR TRAIN and ONE GREAT TRAIN, to name a few.He is survived by his son Ian, vice-president of finance and operations at Jamaica Broilers and daughter Dr Susan Wright.
With all these front page issues surrounding the life of the previously secluded country lad, that of when to call time on his illustrious career, could not escape. That crucial decision for a top-of-the-line athlete, was always going to take centre stage at some point. There is a culture endemic to the country’s track and field and sport in general. Call it unacceptable, for lack of a harsher word. It suggests that “time to go” decisions are to be made by other than the individual in question. Foster’s Fairplay is of the firm view that packing it all in, should reside in the province of the athlete along with his or her handlers. Too often, it comes and in many cases, distastefully so, from administrators and others looking on. Few around at the time can forget the case with the outstanding and most successful at the time, Olympic sprinter, Donald Quarrie. Coincidentally, with Hurricane Matthew heading in Jamaica’s direction, although prayers for a reprieve are ongoing, it was Gilbert time, approaching the Seoul Olympics in 1988, when DQ, as he was affectionately known, was denied a sixth Olympic moment. The Montreal 1976 100m/200m silver and gold medallist, respectively, had achieved the qualifying mark and placed second in the longer distance, at the trials, but was forced to return to his Los Angeles, California residence without the joy and splendour of hitting that career-ending six. It is now Bolt’s time to drop the departure bomb. Once again, he is handling the limelight, in consonance with the showman image that he has adopted. In dramatic style, he is carefully selecting his exit date. The seemingly favourite option is the 2017 London World Championships, where the Jamaican backdrop will be huge – a most fitting stage to say goodbye. One senses that the world’s most elite does not envisage any threat to his supremacy, although there is the suggestion that only one sprint would be attempted. Although not specified, this might very well be the half-lap race. This so, as there is a lingering career dream, still not fulfilled – the prospect of putting the 200m world record to rest, with a mind-boggling 18 point. To even contemplate that feat is scary for lesser mortals. A famous quote from the sports aficionados when fantastic times from the big man in upcoming events are discussed, sometimes trashed by the non-believers, is “Remember, this is Bolt.” There is even talk of taking some time away from the sport, recharge his batteries, rebore his cylinders, and return for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A recent quote attributed to him while going through a particularly rigorous gym routine in his Rio preparations, is instructive. “Why am I doing this?” That self-uttered thought alone should snuff out any flicker of taking on the best in the world in another four years, while on the doorstep of age 34. Leaving the sport, which his presence has graced with a splendidly enhanced and redecorated image, must be solely the prerogative of Usain Bolt. With no qualification to so rule, Foster’s Fairplay suggests: Let London 2017 be the grand farewell. Thank you, Usain. Email feedback to lauriefoster2012@gmail.com. London goodbye When to quit Usain St Leo Bolt has never failed to be a prime time focus of attention. Call him superstar, superman, super hero or just simply a legend, his athletic achievements, awesome presence and antics, to boot, to which the less gifted can only aspire, have attracted the cameras and microphones of the world. The accrued exposure attached to the excitement and ecstasy within his adoring fanbase has catapulted his image far beyond the global sporting cohort. This product of a Christian background, maintained by caring parents, Wellesley and Jennifer, rigid in discipline and decency, has assumed an image that can aptly be described as “larger than life.” There is a highly predictable result to all this adulation and acclaim. The only ‘triple trebler’ in sprinting competition at the prestigious Olympic Games, has his every move tracked with precision. The nature of this mirrors the inner workings of the Hublot watch brand, for which, alongside fellow sporting greats, Pele, Kobe Bryant and JosÈ Mourinho, he has been appointed an ambassador. Even his private life (can someone of his stature have such a thing?) has been placed under intense, intrusive and intimately-revealing post Rio scrutiny.
HOUSTON (AP):There’s no hiding it. One edge the New England Patriots have over the Atlanta Falcons in today’s Super Bowl can’t be denied – experience.It’s a factor never to be scoffed at when the AFC and NFC champions meet for the league title.Sure, New England (16-2) have a bunch of young players – 16 with four years or less in the NFL – and the Falcons (13-5) actually have four guys who have played in a Super Bowl – Dwight Freeney, Courtney Upshaw, Dashon Goldson and Philip Wheeler. Don’t let that mislead you.When a team has a quarterback and a coach in their seventh Super Bowl together, along with a slew of players who helped it win the championship just two years ago, well, that’s the kind of experience that can be key.Just ask Tom Brady.”I’ve got a good regulation of my emotions and I know when I need to get amped up and I know when I need to relax a little bit, and I think you learn those things,” said Brady, a three-time Super Bowl MVP who’s 4-2 in the game.”You kind of have to be right on the edge. It’s such an emotional game. You don’t want to be out of control, but you can’t play with no emotion. You strike different chords for different emotions at different times.”The Falcons aren’t discounting the edge of having been down this path. Freeney, who won a ring with Indianapolis at the 2007 game, believes the mental approach is critical.WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL”I was 24 or 25 or whatever I was,” he said of playing in the Colts’ victory against Chicago. “My body and everything was just on a whole different level, which is to be expected at that age.Atlanta have never won an NFL crown, are in only their second Super Bowl in 51 seasons of life – a decisive loss to Denver came in 1999 – and rarely have been a contender to get this far.Since Brady became New England’s starter, he ranks first in postseason wins (24), passing attempts (1,263), completions (788), yards (8,628) and touchdowns (61). He has the most multi-touchdown games (19) and most career 300-yard games (11) in NFL playoff history. He will also become the first player to appear in seven Super Bowls, and with a victory would have the most rings, tied with Charles Haley.
Another schoolboy, in Kingston College and Harbour View midfielder Fabian Grant, has been added to the Reggae Boyz squad to face Honduras in a friendly international at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas, USA on February 16 at 8:30 pm. Grant, who scored a spectacular goal from 20 yards to give Kingston College the lead in the Walker Cup final, which they won 2-0 by beating Jamaica College, joins Cornwall College’s and Montego Bay United’s Jourdaine Fletcher as the other schoolboy in the team. He replaces Alvas Powell. There is just one more change to the squad that played the USA on Friday, with Portland Timbers’ Andre Lewis coming in for Omar Holness. The rest of the squad reads: Romario Williams, Cory Burke, Je-Vaughn Watson, Kemar Lawrence, Sergio Campbell, Damion Lowe, Oneil Fisher, Andre Blake (GK), Ryan Thompson (GK), Owayne Gordon, Kevon Lambert, Dwayne Ambursley, Ladale Ritchie, Shamar Nicholson, Micheal Binns, Ewan Grandison and Rosario Harriot.