Ganga defends decision to negotiate fee

Daren Ganga, the Trinidad and Tobago captain, has defended his team's decision to negotiate the players' participation fees for the Stanford Super Series with the T&T board, and said it was not about the money.

"The mere fact of us not having terms and conditions settled and the mere fact that we weren't sure as to what our responsibilities and obligations were coming to this tournament, I think that was the main focus that our players' representative [West Indies Players' Association] had with our board," Ganga said.

T&T had delayed their trip to Barbados for warm-up games ahead of the tournament after talks broke down between the board and the WIPA over theparticipation fees to be paid to the players. The board was willing to offer them only 50% while the players wanted 75%. On Wednesday a compromise was reached and it was agreed the players will get 60% of the fee of US$100,000 with no incentives.

"It's those sort of issues that weren't settled and I don't think it was a money issue per se. I think it was just a straight case of not being contractually obligated to the Trinidad and Tobago board, something that was promised and the board failed to deliver at the 11th hour."

Though T&T's warm-up matches were washed out Ganga was confident the team's efforts over the last few months will make the difference.

"For months now we knew exactly what this tournament comprised in terms of the amount of games we would be playing. We've been preparing as a team for three matches.

"Whether we play for US$400,000 [inclusive of appearance fees] against Middlesex, that is not the point. It's about trying to be successful in every game we play, that's our objective. It's about our pride, it's about us enhancing our reputation, it's about Trinidad and Tobago cricket. I think we've got everything to gain. An upset here and there I think it's only going to do good for our cricket and our reputations as players."