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est Indies players threaten England tour boycott
Cricinfo staff
March 26, 2009
West Indies' spring tour of England could be severely undermined after it emerged five senior Caribbean players were threatening to withdraw from the series and play in the lucrative IPL.
Talks between the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players' Association ended after two days without any progress in the ongoing dispute between them, and players including Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan are understood to be considering standing down from national duties in protest.
As things stand, most of the senior West Indies players are on central contracts which expire at the end of the England series. These were supposed to have been renegotiated some time back, but one insider close to the negotiations told Cricinfo the board were "not protecting the interest s of sponsors and key stakeholders" by failing to do ensure that was done.
The insider told Cricinfo the players were "exceptionally greedy" adding that "it's Groundhog Day every year".
Last Friday, players refused to start three domestic one-day matches, while the national team blanked out Digicel branding on their kit with masking tape during the ODI against England. A number of the team also boycotted a Digicel event in Guyana at the weekend.
Dinanath Ramnarine, WIPA's chief executive who resigned from the WICB executive last week, refused to comment as he left the meeting in Bridgetown. It is believed that further talks are planned for early next week.
Cricinfo staff
March 26, 2009
West Indies' spring tour of England could be severely undermined after it emerged five senior Caribbean players were threatening to withdraw from the series and play in the lucrative IPL.
Talks between the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players' Association ended after two days without any progress in the ongoing dispute between them, and players including Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan are understood to be considering standing down from national duties in protest.
As things stand, most of the senior West Indies players are on central contracts which expire at the end of the England series. These were supposed to have been renegotiated some time back, but one insider close to the negotiations told Cricinfo the board were "not protecting the interest s of sponsors and key stakeholders" by failing to do ensure that was done.
The insider told Cricinfo the players were "exceptionally greedy" adding that "it's Groundhog Day every year".
Last Friday, players refused to start three domestic one-day matches, while the national team blanked out Digicel branding on their kit with masking tape during the ODI against England. A number of the team also boycotted a Digicel event in Guyana at the weekend.
Dinanath Ramnarine, WIPA's chief executive who resigned from the WICB executive last week, refused to comment as he left the meeting in Bridgetown. It is believed that further talks are planned for early next week.
BBC: Good morning Shiv. Thanks for granting us this
exclusive interview. How are you today ?
Shiv: I arrite, yuh know.
BBC: There seems to be a lot of commotion and crisis
in West Indies cricket right now. What are your
thoughts ?
Shiv: I dont see no crisis, yuh know. We have a young
team ready to take on Sri Lanka.
BBC: WIPA President Ramnarine recently said "It's
rather unfortunate to have players taking a principled
stand and the captain of that side going in a
different direction." Your comments please.
Shiv: Hear nuh man. Ramnarine is a fail cricketer. He
is a loser. There is no way I Shiv would put meh
trust and meh confidence and meh career in the hands
of a failure and loser like Ramnarine. That's the
mistake the 10 players make. They believe in loser
Ramnarine and he lead them wrong.
BBC: What about Ramnarine's comment about your not
taking a principled stand while the other players did?
Shiv: Well yuh know, we all talk about principle---but
when it come to how we act, when it come to teking
action we does act on we interest.
BBC: So you're saying that we talk on principle and
act on interest ?
Shiv: Positive. Yes. That is right. Look, I sign the
WICB contract because me had to look after
Chanderpaul interest first. Chanderpaul had to do
what's right for Chanderpaul and Chanderpaul career.
Chanderpaul also had to do what's right for West
Indies cricket. We had to tour Sri Lanka or West
Indies cricket would have to pay a fine of 2 million
US.
BBC: What about your teammates who said they were
taking a principled stand ?
Shiv: Like I said. I do what's right for Chanderpaul
and Chanderpaul interest and West Indies cricket
interest. I dont have to care about Lara and his Cable
& Wireless contract or about the interest of Sarwan,
Gayle etc.
BBC: Can your attitude be perceived as being very
selfish ?
Shiv: Not really, yuh know. You just mention
principle. Well, I can live with my principle. The
right thing to do was to play cricket and forget the
money. My conscience very clear about that. That was
the right thing to do. Chanderpaul prefer to play
cricket rather than strike for a few thousand dollars.
BBC: Well, Ramnarine said it was about principle and
not money.
Shiv: When people say is not about money is about
principle, watch out. Is money. Is about money.
Ramnarine is a liar. The 10 players will miss Sri
Lanka tour because Ramnarine want to milk more money
for them from the WICB and the WICB said no way.
BBC: But Ramnarine is the president of WIPA. Weren't
the players following the advice of their leader ?
Shiv: But they was following the wrong advice. They
should have follow the advice of Chanderpaul. I said
to them, forget the sponsorship money. Let we go play
cricket, and let we try to win and you have plenty
incentive bonus money waiting fuh we.
BBC: There was over $600,000 US bonus money available
for the SA and Pak tours and the WI team won only
75,000.
Shiv: That's right. And there is over 250,000 bonus
money if we win in Sri Lanka. But Ramnarine want too
much upfront money. First he want 200,000. Then
150,000. Then 125,000.
BBC: So Ramnarine in your opinion has led the 10
players down the wrong path ?
Shiv: Yes. Definitely. That is the biggest mistake the
10 players make. They follow loser Ramnarine down the
wrong path. I know some of those guys passionate about
them cricket. They should have ignore Ramnarine and
join Chanderpaul and play cricket in Sri Lanka.
BBC: Let's talk about the West Indies fans. Many are
now referring to you as a traitor, a backstabber, a
snake. They say you have betrayed your team and your
teammates.
Shiv: Aaaaaaaaam. I dont blame the fans, yuh know.
Many of them mad with West Indies cricket. They
very angry. Look, if I was a fan of Lara and Lara and
others get get drop I might say worst thing about
Chanderpaul.
BBC: But are the fans right ? Are you a traitor ? Are
you a backstabber ? Did you betray your teammates ?
Shiv: Well, if all fans of West Indies cricket think I
was all of those nasty things then I would worry. But
fuh every fan who think I betray my teammates there is
another fan who think I did the right and responsible
thing by signing the WICB contract and taking the
young team to Sri Lanka. Cricket more important than
money.
BBC: What kind of fans would refer to you as a
traitor, backstabber, and accuse you of betraying your
teammates ?
Shiv: Yuh know, I personally think a lot of people, a
lot of West Indies fans very frustrated with their own
life. Many of them, doctors, lawyers, engineers,
professors, accountants, government workers, welfare
receivers, etc, find themself in jobs and profession
they hate and have no passion for. Many are going
through life asleep at the wheel. They are like
mindless robots. These are the kind of people who
would call Chanderpaul a traitor, a backstabber, a
snake. They are the people who would say Chanderpaul
betray his teammates. These people use up all their
passion hating Chanderpaul----is no wonder they not
successful in life---they should try to find something
they passionate about---that's how they can be
successful. Right now not one of the people saying
nasty things about Chanderpaul can look at themself in
the mirror and say they is successful---not one!!!
BBC: What about the fans who support Chanderpaul ?
Shiv: Everybody who I know support me is either a
success in life or they will be a success in life.
BBC: Are you saying that the fans who are critical of
Chanderpaul are losers and the fans who support
Chanderpaul you are winners ?
Shiv: What I say is not one of the fans calling me
nasty names can look at themself and say I am a
success in life. Most have too much negative passion.
They use their passion in a negative way. They hate.
They complain. The condemn. They criticize. The fans
who support Chanderpaul use their passion in a
positive way. They are passionate about what they do.
That is why they are success in life.
BBC: Let's talk about the captaincy. Are you enjoying
the captaincy ?
Shiv: Regarding the captaincy, my goal was not to be
West Indies captain. I am passionate about batting. I
passionate about cricket. I not passionate about
leading the West Indies. But I am loyal to West Indies
cricket and when my employer, the WICB, beg me to lead
the team I could not say no.
BBC: But are you enjoying the experience ?
Shiv: Oh definitely. Look, we not winning. But we
making slow progress. You build a house one brick at a
time, and that is what Coach King and Captain
Chanderpaul doing with this West Indies team. We
slowly building. They have a saying in Guyana "one one
dutty build dam." Thats what we doing.
BBC: But how can you build that dam without the stars?
Shiv: What stars you talking about ? The only star is
Lara. Nobody else is a star and that include
Chanderpaul. What we need on West Indies team are
players who are passionate about cricket and committed
about cricket not players who follow a loser like
Ramnarine and put money before cricket.
BBC: You have now led the West Indies in 6 tests.
Which was the best match you captained ?
Shiv: Definitely the Bourda test match. That was my
first test. That was the test in which the so called
stars did not play. What I like most was the young
players in that team was very excited and show a lot
of passion and unity.
BBC: You will be having lots of young and
inexperienced players in Sri Lanka.
Shiv: Yes. And I am confident they will play hard and
be very committed.
BBC: Shiv, if we may change the subject a little, we
are conducting this interview in your home in Florida,
USA. Care to share with us your experience in the
United States ?
Shiv: Well, me and Amy (Shiv's wife) are residents of
the US. We plan to apply for citizenship when I retire
from cricket. We love America.
BBC: What's your day like in the US ?
Shiv: Well, I usually wake up around 5AM. I do some
exercise. I go for a lil running. Then around 9AM me
and Amy drive over to Barnes and Noble. They have a
starbucks coffee shop there. We have cappucino.
BBC: Barnes and Noble is the big bookstore in America,
correct ?
Shiv: Yes.
BBC: Are you into reading Shiv ?
Shiv: Not really, yuh know. But I like glancing
through car magazine and stuff.
BBC: Have you read any books recently ?
Shiv: Well Amy recently buy me a yellow and black
color book and she insist that I read it. She said I
gon learn some tips.
BBC: Care to share the title of that yellow and black
book with us ?
Shiv: The title is Public Speaking For
Dummies. [laugh]
BBC: hahahahahahahahahaha
BBC: What did you say to Amy when she gave you that
book ?
Shiv: I say you have no respect for the West Indies
captain. [laugh]
BBC: And what did she say to you ?
Shiv: [laugh] She say, "trust me on this Shivo, nobody
respect the West Indies captain. read the book. you
might get some tips and get some respect." [laugh]
BBC: Did you say anything to her ?
Shiv: Well, in a way, she right, yuh know. [laugh].
Anyways, I read 4 chapters and they have some good
tips. I will finish reading after Sri Lanka tour.
BBC: Shiv, it's always a delight talking to you. You
do have a good sense of humor. Thanks for your time
and good luck in Sri Lanka.
Shiv: Thanks and praise the lord.
exclusive interview. How are you today ?
Shiv: I arrite, yuh know.
BBC: There seems to be a lot of commotion and crisis
in West Indies cricket right now. What are your
thoughts ?
Shiv: I dont see no crisis, yuh know. We have a young
team ready to take on Sri Lanka.
BBC: WIPA President Ramnarine recently said "It's
rather unfortunate to have players taking a principled
stand and the captain of that side going in a
different direction." Your comments please.
Shiv: Hear nuh man. Ramnarine is a fail cricketer. He
is a loser. There is no way I Shiv would put meh
trust and meh confidence and meh career in the hands
of a failure and loser like Ramnarine. That's the
mistake the 10 players make. They believe in loser
Ramnarine and he lead them wrong.
BBC: What about Ramnarine's comment about your not
taking a principled stand while the other players did?
Shiv: Well yuh know, we all talk about principle---but
when it come to how we act, when it come to teking
action we does act on we interest.
BBC: So you're saying that we talk on principle and
act on interest ?
Shiv: Positive. Yes. That is right. Look, I sign the
WICB contract because me had to look after
Chanderpaul interest first. Chanderpaul had to do
what's right for Chanderpaul and Chanderpaul career.
Chanderpaul also had to do what's right for West
Indies cricket. We had to tour Sri Lanka or West
Indies cricket would have to pay a fine of 2 million
US.
BBC: What about your teammates who said they were
taking a principled stand ?
Shiv: Like I said. I do what's right for Chanderpaul
and Chanderpaul interest and West Indies cricket
interest. I dont have to care about Lara and his Cable
& Wireless contract or about the interest of Sarwan,
Gayle etc.
BBC: Can your attitude be perceived as being very
selfish ?
Shiv: Not really, yuh know. You just mention
principle. Well, I can live with my principle. The
right thing to do was to play cricket and forget the
money. My conscience very clear about that. That was
the right thing to do. Chanderpaul prefer to play
cricket rather than strike for a few thousand dollars.
BBC: Well, Ramnarine said it was about principle and
not money.
Shiv: When people say is not about money is about
principle, watch out. Is money. Is about money.
Ramnarine is a liar. The 10 players will miss Sri
Lanka tour because Ramnarine want to milk more money
for them from the WICB and the WICB said no way.
BBC: But Ramnarine is the president of WIPA. Weren't
the players following the advice of their leader ?
Shiv: But they was following the wrong advice. They
should have follow the advice of Chanderpaul. I said
to them, forget the sponsorship money. Let we go play
cricket, and let we try to win and you have plenty
incentive bonus money waiting fuh we.
BBC: There was over $600,000 US bonus money available
for the SA and Pak tours and the WI team won only
75,000.
Shiv: That's right. And there is over 250,000 bonus
money if we win in Sri Lanka. But Ramnarine want too
much upfront money. First he want 200,000. Then
150,000. Then 125,000.
BBC: So Ramnarine in your opinion has led the 10
players down the wrong path ?
Shiv: Yes. Definitely. That is the biggest mistake the
10 players make. They follow loser Ramnarine down the
wrong path. I know some of those guys passionate about
them cricket. They should have ignore Ramnarine and
join Chanderpaul and play cricket in Sri Lanka.
BBC: Let's talk about the West Indies fans. Many are
now referring to you as a traitor, a backstabber, a
snake. They say you have betrayed your team and your
teammates.
Shiv: Aaaaaaaaam. I dont blame the fans, yuh know.
Many of them mad with West Indies cricket. They
very angry. Look, if I was a fan of Lara and Lara and
others get get drop I might say worst thing about
Chanderpaul.
BBC: But are the fans right ? Are you a traitor ? Are
you a backstabber ? Did you betray your teammates ?
Shiv: Well, if all fans of West Indies cricket think I
was all of those nasty things then I would worry. But
fuh every fan who think I betray my teammates there is
another fan who think I did the right and responsible
thing by signing the WICB contract and taking the
young team to Sri Lanka. Cricket more important than
money.
BBC: What kind of fans would refer to you as a
traitor, backstabber, and accuse you of betraying your
teammates ?
Shiv: Yuh know, I personally think a lot of people, a
lot of West Indies fans very frustrated with their own
life. Many of them, doctors, lawyers, engineers,
professors, accountants, government workers, welfare
receivers, etc, find themself in jobs and profession
they hate and have no passion for. Many are going
through life asleep at the wheel. They are like
mindless robots. These are the kind of people who
would call Chanderpaul a traitor, a backstabber, a
snake. They are the people who would say Chanderpaul
betray his teammates. These people use up all their
passion hating Chanderpaul----is no wonder they not
successful in life---they should try to find something
they passionate about---that's how they can be
successful. Right now not one of the people saying
nasty things about Chanderpaul can look at themself in
the mirror and say they is successful---not one!!!
BBC: What about the fans who support Chanderpaul ?
Shiv: Everybody who I know support me is either a
success in life or they will be a success in life.
BBC: Are you saying that the fans who are critical of
Chanderpaul are losers and the fans who support
Chanderpaul you are winners ?
Shiv: What I say is not one of the fans calling me
nasty names can look at themself and say I am a
success in life. Most have too much negative passion.
They use their passion in a negative way. They hate.
They complain. The condemn. They criticize. The fans
who support Chanderpaul use their passion in a
positive way. They are passionate about what they do.
That is why they are success in life.
BBC: Let's talk about the captaincy. Are you enjoying
the captaincy ?
Shiv: Regarding the captaincy, my goal was not to be
West Indies captain. I am passionate about batting. I
passionate about cricket. I not passionate about
leading the West Indies. But I am loyal to West Indies
cricket and when my employer, the WICB, beg me to lead
the team I could not say no.
BBC: But are you enjoying the experience ?
Shiv: Oh definitely. Look, we not winning. But we
making slow progress. You build a house one brick at a
time, and that is what Coach King and Captain
Chanderpaul doing with this West Indies team. We
slowly building. They have a saying in Guyana "one one
dutty build dam." Thats what we doing.
BBC: But how can you build that dam without the stars?
Shiv: What stars you talking about ? The only star is
Lara. Nobody else is a star and that include
Chanderpaul. What we need on West Indies team are
players who are passionate about cricket and committed
about cricket not players who follow a loser like
Ramnarine and put money before cricket.
BBC: You have now led the West Indies in 6 tests.
Which was the best match you captained ?
Shiv: Definitely the Bourda test match. That was my
first test. That was the test in which the so called
stars did not play. What I like most was the young
players in that team was very excited and show a lot
of passion and unity.
BBC: You will be having lots of young and
inexperienced players in Sri Lanka.
Shiv: Yes. And I am confident they will play hard and
be very committed.
BBC: Shiv, if we may change the subject a little, we
are conducting this interview in your home in Florida,
USA. Care to share with us your experience in the
United States ?
Shiv: Well, me and Amy (Shiv's wife) are residents of
the US. We plan to apply for citizenship when I retire
from cricket. We love America.
BBC: What's your day like in the US ?
Shiv: Well, I usually wake up around 5AM. I do some
exercise. I go for a lil running. Then around 9AM me
and Amy drive over to Barnes and Noble. They have a
starbucks coffee shop there. We have cappucino.
BBC: Barnes and Noble is the big bookstore in America,
correct ?
Shiv: Yes.
BBC: Are you into reading Shiv ?
Shiv: Not really, yuh know. But I like glancing
through car magazine and stuff.
BBC: Have you read any books recently ?
Shiv: Well Amy recently buy me a yellow and black
color book and she insist that I read it. She said I
gon learn some tips.
BBC: Care to share the title of that yellow and black
book with us ?
Shiv: The title is Public Speaking For
Dummies. [laugh]
BBC: hahahahahahahahahaha
BBC: What did you say to Amy when she gave you that
book ?
Shiv: I say you have no respect for the West Indies
captain. [laugh]
BBC: And what did she say to you ?
Shiv: [laugh] She say, "trust me on this Shivo, nobody
respect the West Indies captain. read the book. you
might get some tips and get some respect." [laugh]
BBC: Did you say anything to her ?
Shiv: Well, in a way, she right, yuh know. [laugh].
Anyways, I read 4 chapters and they have some good
tips. I will finish reading after Sri Lanka tour.
BBC: Shiv, it's always a delight talking to you. You
do have a good sense of humor. Thanks for your time
and good luck in Sri Lanka.
Shiv: Thanks and praise the lord.
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