When I was younger I often heard people say, "Money is the root of all evil", but I never understood what they quite meant. Well, all one has to do is look first at West Indies cricket and secondly, at Bermuda cricket, to see what money has done to both national teams.

To be quite honest, I am not a big time follower of West Indies' cricket, but they seem to have an issue with finance.

West Indies cricket is in turmoil like never before. Currently, several of their top players are reluctant to represent their country due to payment and contract disagreements. Just a few weeks ago West Indies played Bangladesh with a second-string team, minus Gayle, Sarwan, Chanderpaul, Bravo and company and got thumped, in both Test and one-day games.

West Indies' players complaining they have not been offered contracts but are expected to play, were not consulted about tour arrangements, are owed money and cannot get their injuries properly treated.

Now the players are still negotiating with the West Indies Cricket Board and like the Bermuda national team did years ago, they too may be forced into arbitration. West Indies are scheduled to play Australia in months to come, but are not sure what players they will have available for selection.

This is a very unfortunate situation and I know firsthand what the players are going through as well as the Cricket Board. If you can remember when Bermuda qualified for Cricket World Cup some years ago both parties went through a similar situation. To be quite honest I think it was unfortunate then and I think it's unfortunate now that both parties couldn't see eye to eye, but these things happen.

Personally, I think money was and still is the biggest problem in our cricket. Players from the Cricket World Cup made off reasonably well and the expectation from players since then is that they expect to be well taken care of. However, we have to understand that the world is going through a crisis and players have to make a sacrifice.

Bermuda, we have to get back to the days when playing for your country is an honour and whatever benefits come along with it, then that's a bonus.

Yes, that is asking a lot and players may not be willing to make that type of sacrifice. However, there comes a time when you have to earn your way. There is no doubt in my mind that if the current Bermuda team started beating top teams around the world that money would filter back into the system again.

I always believed that if you wanted something you must work hard for it. Nobody has to give you anything, you have to go out there and claim it by doing what's necessary to be successful.

Just recently Bermuda had a tour and we as a country fielded a second string team basically. Was money an issue? Yes! Players were reluctant to play because they weren't getting paid and they weren't staying in a hotel, but used all sorts of excuses to cover it up instead of addressing the issue with the Cricket Board as a whole.

We have to learn to be open and honest and make people accountable for their decisions. Like the West Indies cricket team, I would encourage the Bermuda national team to find people they are confident in to represent them in discussions with the Cricket Board when it comes to financial matters, or better still form a players' union, something that the players have talked about for years, but have not acted upon

All in all for cricket to move forward in this country and others countries there must be better communication between the Cricket Boards and the players. Together they have to work to be proactive rather than reactive.

Looking forward I would challenge the players of the Bermuda national team to whole heartedly commit themselves to the team for the betterment of the future of cricket in Bermuda. When the new coach comes in he will need to have all resources on board if he is able to come close to getting the results that Gus (Logie) did.

In closing, as I said earlier people like winners, if you the players want more then they have to produce more. The ball is now in their court.