Problems have arisen because seven leading players have personal sponsorship deals with Cable & Wireless, despite rival telecoms supplier, Digicel, being the new team sponsors.
Digicel has pointed out that its five-year £10.5million deal is not worth a lot while seven of the most marketable players, including Brian Lara, are represented by a competitor.
As a result of the dispute, the seven players were left out of a 22-man squad for the forthcoming home series against South Africa.
Cable & Wireless has also spoken out, claiming its sponsorship offer to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has never been withdrawn.
The leading telecommunications provider in the Caribbean has refuted claims to the contrary relating to its sponsorship offer tabled in September 2003, during the company’s 18th year of sponsorship of West Indies cricket.
Referring to media comments surrounding its sponsorship, Rachelle Franklin, senior vice president for corporate marketing for Cable & Wireless Caribbean region, reiterated that the company will always “be there” for West Indies cricket.
A statement issued by Franklin, on behalf of Cable & Wireless, read: “To this end, it is important for the Caribbean people to know that we have worked within the legal boundaries of our contracts and internationally accepted practice, which predates the WICB’s current team sponsorship arrangement.”
It goes on: “As matters have continued to deteriorate, we are prepared to make other reasonable concessions in the best interest of West Indies cricket so that the South African and Pakistan tours to the Caribbean are neither compromised nor jeopardised – although these compromises will significantly reduce the value of what we have.
“However, it should be noted that we have pushed the limits of how far we can go without seriously undermining our ability to continue to support the game in preparation for the biggest sporting event to come to the Caribbean, World Cup 2007.”
Talks are to be held in Grenada aimed at settling the dispute, which will be chaired by Keith Mitchell, the Grenadian prime minister.
And representatives from the West Indies Cricket Board, the players' association (WIPA) and the two companies, are all due to attend.
