West Indies Players Association (WIPA) warns Sanjeev Datadin over intimidation of its members in Guyana

- says Kaieteur News statement 'grossly inaccurate as a matter of law and fact'

The West Indies Players Association (WIPA) is concerned about the intimidation of its members in Guyana as the standoff between the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and the Government-appointed Interim Management Committee (IMC) continues.

In a media release on Friday last, WIPA challenged Sanjeev Datadin, a lawyer representing the Guyana Cricket Board, over threats issued to players who have been called to training by the IMC for the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board Regional four-day tournament.

In a Kaiteur News article on Wednesday, Datadin was quoted as saying: "Should the players turn up for matches scheduled by the IMC they run the risk of being banned from all international cricket."

However, the players' body, in a release, labelled the statement as "without any proper basis whatsoever" and "grossly inaccurate as a matter of law and fact".

It stated further: "WIPA unequivocally states that interpretation of the rules of the ICC as well as the thinly-veiled threats contained in the article that purports to quote Mr. Datadin is mischievous and a misrepresentation of the applicable rules. WIPA views this purposeful act as intended solely to cause fear in the minds of the players in a desperate attempt to force them to support" what WIPA describes as "the defunct and currently illegal Guyana Cricket Board".

The standoff in Guyana arose after Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang recommended that the government intervene in the running of Guyana's cricket in the national interest after the GCB had been taken to court by the Berbice Cricket Board over disputed election results.

This resulted in the setting up of the IMC, headed by former Guyana and West Indies captain Clive Lloyd.

The WIPA release also noted that the Guyana High Court recently dismissed the GCB's application to quash Justice Chang's ruling of December 23, 2011.

The release concluded by stating: "WIPA is concerned for the welfare of its players and is wary of the advice being thrust upon them by the GCB's attorneys, especially given the history. WIPA is ever wary of persons who appear to be seeking their own self-promotion to the detriment of the game of cricket."