Retired West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich is seeking close to U.S. $172 000 from Cricket West Indies for loss of earnings in a lawsuit filed last month in the High Court of Barbados.
Dowrich is seeking special damages for being considered ineligible for selection in Tests between February 2021 and August 2022 because of the wrongful application of criteria to determine whether the contract he had held for five years should have been “renewed for a sixth on and which was not on the basis that he was not fit”.
The lawsuit stemmed from the process CWI used three years ago to deny Dowrich a renewal of his central retainer contract, which was valued about U.S. $150 000.
He is also seeking a sum for general damages for the further loss of earnings because of the wrongful determination of his status.
CWI was served this past Friday in Antigua and will have 28 days to acknowledge of receipt of the lawsuit, and a further 14 days to file a defence, with a possible hearing date in mid-April.
Dowrich last played for West Indies on the Tour of New Zealand tour four years ago when he suffered a finger injury, and he later asked to be released from the tour citing personal reasons.
The 32-year-old Barbadian, who was the first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman batsman at the time, was not offered a new retainer contract the following year because he had presumably not played the required number of matches to qualify.
Dowrich was named on Sunday in the 13-member Barbados Pride squad for next month’s start of the West Indies Championship, almost two months after he officially retired from international cricket.
His decision led to his withdrawal from the West Indies squad for their One-day International home series against England in December.
He played 35 Tests and a single ODI for the Caribbean after he made his international debut in a Test against Australia nine years ago in Dominica.