Kieron Pollard given WICB central contract for 2010/11

[shivfan]

As Beamer knows, I'm not a great fan of Pollard playing a plethora of 20/20 cricket, and I really didn't think he would've gotten a central contract on that basis only, but it just goes to show that I'm wrong yet again....

Well, it seems I'm not wrong, after all....

Bravo turns down WICB retainer contract | RJR News

Pollard and Bravo have both turned down the WI central contracts. Pollard clearly wants to continue his career as a 20/20 mercenary, unfettered by little nuisances, such as West Indies duties, while it now seems Bravo may be about to follow suit. The question remains, the way Bravo's been inconsistent, it might not be long before 20/20 teams don't want him any more!

As for Gayle, he still has to commit himself. I wonder what he's going to do....

 

[Beamer]

I'm going to have to side with the WICB on this issue.

I felt they should have offered Pollard a contract ages ago and didn't, which he obviously found insulting. But now the WICB have licked their wounds and given him one he has apparently spat it back in their face.

As a Pollard fan I feel really let down. As for Bravo, I have no idea what he is doing.

 

[Woodster]

I'm disappointed Pollard has turned down the offer a WI contract. He has taken the easy option, in terms of cricket within his comfort zone, for huge piles of cash, in a way you cannot fault his decision if that's the way he wants to go. In T20 cricket he is undoubtedly one of the world stars, and will receive ample financial rewards for his talents in this format, and had he signed the contract the requirements would dictate he is available for West Indies at all times, not something Pollard is too keen to commit to.

I would have loved to see him have a real go at trying to make a name for himself playing real cricket. Don't mean to degrade T20 cricket, but succeeding at the longer formats requires different skills, skills that players are judged by in terms of their standings as cricketers. Perhaps Pollard realises his shortcomings and is determined to cash in on T20 cricket while his name is up there with the elite.

Dwayne Bravo's situation is more confusing. Bravo has shown in glimpses his quality in Test cricket. Is he prepared to throw all that away to chase the dollar ? Or are they hoping for an improved contract offer ?

I know the WICB are saying that players outside the contract list will still be able to play for WI, but surely if they turn down this contract, the WI selectors will not be too keen to select them in the near future.

 

[outbreak]

Pollard isn't a real cricketer in my book anyway. I hope the WICB have nothing to do with him anymore.

 

[shivfan]

I'm going to have to side with the WICB on this issue.

I felt they should have offered Pollard a contract ages ago and didn't, which he obviously found insulting. But now the WICB have licked their wounds and given him one he has apparently spat it back in their face.

As a Pollard fan I feel really let down. As for Bravo, I have no idea what he is doing.

As you know, I've been a big critic of Pollard's commitment to the WI cause in the past, but I'm just as disappointed as you are....

Largely because I thought the WI 20/20 team in particular was turning a corner, only for this to happen. And let's not forget that Gayle hasn't committed himself yet either, so potentially it could get worse. I guess the WICB just couldn't compete with the kind of money offered by this format of the game:

West Indies: Bravo, Pollard turn down WICB contracts | West Indies Cricket News | Cricinfo.com

"The contracts, worth US$80,000, require the players to make themselves available for West Indies at all times, but Pollard in particular has already shown a reluctance to do so. In June, he turned down a place on the one-day leg of the West Indies A-team tour to England in favour of his deal with Somerset for the Friends Provident t20. In addition to his Somerset deal, Pollard plays for his home country of Trinidad & Tobago, was signed by the Mumbai Indians for the maximum payable amount of $750,000 to play in the 2010 IPL, and played for South Australia in the Twenty20 Big Bash, where he topped the charts with 190 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 145.03. Both Mumbai and South Australia qualified for the 2010 Champions League Twenty20, in part because of Pollard's contributions."

 

[shivfan]

Now, Gayle has turned down a central contract....

Gayle refuses retainer contract - Jamaica Sports & Athletics: Football, Track, Cricket, Netball & More - JamaicaObserver.com

Time to find a new WI captain?

 

[Flem274*]

I think it's time for first class teams to write into their contracts that if you sign this you are willing to put domestic and national commitments before playing in mercenary leagues.

Have fun getting an IPL team without playing domestic cricket, suckas. (Yes, I know it's still possible, but it makes it a lot harder).

EDIT: I'm not saying you can't refuse a national contract with the above, you just can't say no to your national or domestic side then run off to the IPL.

 

[GotSpin]

I think it's time for first class teams to write into their contracts that if you sign this you are willing to put domestic and national commitments before playing in mercenary leagues.

Have fun getting an IPL team without playing domestic cricket, suckas. (Yes, I know it's still possible, but it makes it a lot harder).

EDIT: I'm not saying you can't refuse a national contract with the above, you just can't say no to your national or domestic side then run off to the IPL.

Yeah really need to lock in some mid to long term commitment for domestic and national teams
- I still hope the popularity of 20/20 will decline in the coming years removing these issues

 

[pasag]

Can't national teams block players playing in the IPL as per IPL regulations?

 

[Themer]

Can't national teams block players playing in the IPL as per IPL regulations?

As if they'd have to balls to do it even if they can.

 

[shivfan]

Unfortunately, it's more than just the IPL....

It seems that Bravo, Pollard and Gayle have declined to sign, because they want to play in the Aussie Big Bash from Dec 30-Jan 29. Right in the middle of this domestic 20/20 tournament, the WIndies play their own domestic 20/20 tournament.

 

[Shri]

Can't national teams block players playing in the IPL as per IPL regulations?

Yeah, but Pollard isn't bound by the WICB rules when he has not signed a contract with them right?

 

[vic_orthdox]

I think it's time for first class teams to write into their contracts that if you sign this you are willing to put domestic and national commitments before playing in mercenary leagues.

Have fun getting an IPL team without playing domestic cricket, suckas. (Yes, I know it's still possible, but it makes it a lot harder).

EDIT: I'm not saying you can't refuse a national contract with the above, you just can't say no to your national or domestic side then run off to the IPL.

Once they get to a point and are established, it doesn't really matter that much. If anything it'd suit the IPL sides that they are available all the time.

 

[Beamer]

It's been announced on Jamaican radio that the three players offered contracts instead of Gayle, Bravo and Pollard are Cartlon Baugh, Andre Russell and David Bernard Jr.

If this is true I would have preferred to see Devon Thomas given the wicket keeping contract. I guess they want to give Baugh one last proper go to see if he can produce at the highest level. I am fine with Russell being given a contract as he is a fine pacer in the making but I simply don't rate Bernard Jr very highly at all.

This means that the following players have signed contracts:

1. Shivnarine Chanderpaul – A
2. Sulieman Been – B
3. Darren Sammy – B
4. Kemar Roach – C
5. Brendan Nash – C
6. Adrian Barath – C
7. Darren Bravo – C
8. Shane Shillingford – C
9. Nikita Miller – C
10. Devon Smith – C
11. Ravi Rampaul – C
12. Nelon Pascal – C
13. David Bernard Jr – C
14. Andre Russell – C
15. Carlton Baugh Jr – C

Development Contracts:

1. Kirk Edwards
2. Gavin Tonge
3. Andre Fletcher
4. Chadwick Walton
5. Devendra Bishoo
6. Assad Fudadin
7. Imran Khan
8. Kevin Stoute

 

[aussie]

My fam down in trinidad told me recently that Chris Gayle had some big birthday party down in Guyana or something.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah, but Pollard isn't bound by the WICB rules when he has not signed a contract with them right?

I believe the rules were set up in a way originally that would allow the WICB to block Pollard playing anyway - essentially to stop players just retiring early and signing up with the IPL without their board's consent. I think that rule has either deteriorated over time or loopholes have been found within it, however.

 

[TT Boy]

My fam down in trinidad told me recently that Chris Gayle had some big birthday party down in Guyana or something.

And what's that got to do with the price of milk?

 

[aussie]

And what's that got to do with the price of milk?

Knowing how west Indians party, thats not the kind of image i'd want from the captain of the West Indies team, in amongst this minor controversey of him turning down the central contract.

 

[shivfan]

Whether Gayle parties or not is neither here nor there, IMHO, because there's no Test cricket going on right now, so he can party as much as he wants....

I'm not convinced by Baugh either, but I agree with Beamer - I suppose he needs one final run to see if he can prove us doubters wrong.

To be honest, I really don't see anything wrong with the contracts. Basically, they say that WI cricket has to come first. It is also unlikely that the WICB will accept another half-baked early tour of England that will clash with the IPL, and they are doing their best to ensure that home series don't clash with the IPL either. The issues seem to surround playing 20/20 cricket for Australian states and English counties, which apparently this trio want to do....

 

[G.I.Joe]

Whether Gayle parties or not is neither here nor there, IMHO, because there's no Test cricket going on right now, so he can party as much as he wants....

I'm not convinced by Baugh either, but I agree with Beamer - I suppose he needs one final run to see if he can prove us doubters wrong.

To be honest, I really don't see anything wrong with the contracts. Basically, they say that WI cricket has to come first. It is also unlikely that the WICB will accept another half-baked early tour of England that will clash with the IPL, and they are doing their best to ensure that home series don't clash with the IPL either. The issues seem to surround playing 20/20 cricket for Australian states and English counties, which apparently this trio want to do....

Damn BCCI!