ST. JOHN'S, Antigua, Tues. Mar. 15, 2005: The West Indies Cricket Board yesterday struck back at claims by former team sponsor Cable and Wireless that it was never offered the deal secured by Digicel, making it the latest round in the cricket battle that is waging in the region. In a statement issued yesterday in response to the C&W claims, WICB officials slammed back stating that this was untrue since the board, by letter dated March 2, 2004, presented to Cable and Wireless the details of a rival sponsorship bid totaling US$23 million dollars over five years. “This was in keeping with the terms of the agreement between the Board and Cable and Wireless,” said WICB officials. “In all material aspects this was the same agreement that was signed between the Board and Digicel.”The board further revealed that in a letter dated March 16 2004 addressed to Roger Brathwaite, chief executive officer of the WICB and signed by Usman Saadat, vice president - Marketing, Cable and Wireless, Eastern Caribbean, the company stated: "…C&W has decided not to match the rival bid. "Subsequently, the board claims Cable and Wireless presented a verbal request to the WICB to amend its last offer of US $10.95 million. However the WICB said discussions with representatives of the rival bidder were well advanced and the Board considered it inappropriate to re-open negotiations with Cable and Wireless. Board officials claimed they were making the disclosures to set the record straight. Their comments comes as seven Cable & Wireless contracted players, including Brian Lara, remain shut out of the South Africa tour, which begins on March 31 in Guyana. Reprinted from hardbeatnews.com