WHAT A week it has been for West Indies cricket and the West Indies Cricket Board.
We signed agreements with two separate sponsors to support various parts of our operations and we had the challenge of hammering out an agreement with the players on the sharing of the team sponsorship for the Cricket World Cup 2003 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
The other thing that has occupied some of our collective attention over the last week however, has been the challenge that broadcasters throughout the region have found in coming to an agreement with the rights holders for coverage of the Cricket World Cup 2003.
While we acknowledge the importance of coverage of the Cricket World Cup 2003 as well as other overseas engagements in which our team is involved because of its value in the development of the game, the WICB does not believe that it should be the agency for the negotiation of rights for broadcast stations in the region.
Many people believe that it should be part of our responsibility, but the WICB cannot in all honesty take on such a task. While we accept the market size and other considerations, it's hardly a desirable arrangement for a sports organisation to assume such a role. It's just not our place.
This does not mean that the WICB will wash its hands clean of the issue. We are morally bound to help ease the situation, but we are not prepared to commit the precious little funds that the WICB presently controls to buying broadcast rights for stations in the region.
The WICB has had to underwrite the cost of domestic television coverage over the last few years and that has placed a dent in our finances because the cost of television production is very high and there is little scope for considerable returns outside of international matches.
That's why we can understand the plight of the stations and we are prepared to help in various ways. Two that come to mind are: 1. We can help facilitate negotiations with the rights holders, or 2. We can help the Caribbean Media Corporation, the entity that negotiates on behalf of regional stations, to find the wherewithal to carry the coverage.
The CMC intends to make its objections to the present undesirable circumstances known to the International Cricket Council.
The WICB will also make its own feelings known to the international cricket body and we are upset that special consideration was not given to the unique circumstances of the Caribbean with much smaller markets than the other major cricket nations and the fact that we are hosting the same event in four years' time.
Let's make it clear that the WICB wants every match of the Cricket World Cup 2003 to be shown in the Caribbean. We will make representation on behalf of the CMC and, indeed, the six millions West Indian fans right throughout the Caribbean.
We simply do not have the cash to pay for the broadcast rights, but we will do everything possible to make sure that our people see the Cricket World Cup 2003.
Send comments or queries to: WEST INDIES CRICKET BOARD, Factory Road, P.O. Box 616W, St. John's, Antigua, West Indies, Tel: (268) 481-2450, Fax: (268) 481-2498, E-mail: wicb@windiescricket.com
