Red Force trio broke contracts

Red Force trio broke contracts

Vinode Mamchan
Published: guardian
Sunday, November 15, 2015

Kevon Cooper
The three T&T Red Force players who were taken off the retainer contract programme by the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) can be back on contract but only after August 4, 2016.

Red Force captain Rayad Emrit, all rounder Kevon Cooper and opener Evin Lewis all had their retainer with the Red Force discontinued after they decided to go to Bangladesh to play in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPLT20) which gets going next week. Emrit and Lewis are currently battling for the Red Force against the Barbados Pride in Bridgetown in the second round of the Regional Four-day tournament.

They, together with Cooper leave for Bangladesh after this match. Guardian Media was able to get the relevant section of the players contract which deals with playing cricket overseas during the term of their retainer.

A WICB official explained that the players broke their contracts with the Red Force Franchise by signing contracts before gaining a release.

The official pointed to Section 1.2 of the contract which reads that: “The Cricketer shall not enter into any Overseas Contract without first obtaining a release and NOC by the Franchise, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. If the Franchise does withhold its release and NOC it shall provide the Cricketer with reasons for such decision. It is acknowledged that the MOU seeks to provide for a standard NOC which shall be used by the Franchise and the Cricketer in these circumstances.”

The three players according to the official will get an opportunity to get back into the system when the new contracts for the new term is drawn up on August 4, 2016. “The selectors from the franchise will indicate the players that they think has a contribution to make to the franchise and they will then be included.

“If the players are selected by the franchise during the term that they are not retained then they will get ‘pay for play’ contracts.”

CONTRACTS

1.  Overseas Contracts

1.1.  In the event that the Cricketer wishes to enter into any Overseas Contract during the Term, he shall be required to give the Franchise reasonable written notice of his wish to do so. In giving such notice the Cricketer shall disclose the following:

(a)  The overseas club or team for which the Cricketer wishes to play

(b)  The duration of the Overseas Contract and the dates on which the Cricketer wishes to depart from and return to the West Indies

(c)  Whether or not the Cricketer is, or will be, required to sign, or in any way give, any undertaking to the overseas club, or any overseas cricket or regulatory board relating to his current or future commitments to playing cricket (or not playing cricket) in, or for, any particular country.

1.2.  The Cricketer shall not enter into any Overseas Contract without first obtaining a release and NOC by the Franchise, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. If the Franchise does withhold its release and NOC it shall provide the Cricketer with reasons for such decision. It is acknowledged that the MOU seeks to provide for a standard NOC which shall be used by the Franchise and the Cricketer in these circumstances.

Under Duties there is this clause:

(a)  Being available to participate in all Domestic Competitions, including all matches forming part of those Domestic Competitions and any other club or practice match as the Franchise may require the Cricketer to participate in from time to time.

the bangladesh contract must be paying them very well