The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) today said following an emergency meeting that it will request a meeting with its Indian counterpart, the BCCI, following the abandoning of the tour of India by West Indian players over a pay dispute.
The Barbados meeting also agreed that the WICB will establish a Task Force, comprising critical stakeholders, to review the premature end of the tour to India.
The Indian board today announced a suspension of its tours programme with the West Indies and is preparing to file a lawsuit against the WICB over the reported US$65M loss as a result of the abandoned tour.
The WICB press release follows:
Bridgetown, Barbados – The West Indies Cricket Board regrets, and is deeply embarrassed by the premature and unfortunate end to the recent tour of India.
The WICB once again expresses to the BCCI and all stakeholders – especially the cricket loving public of the West Indies and India – sorrow for the events leading up to this development.
The Board of Directors of the WICB, today met to formally embark on the process of a careful and systematic review of relevant events and have, initially, decided as follows:
- to establish a Task Force, comprising critical stakeholders, to review the premature end of the tour to India. The Task Force will meet with all parties, including WIPA and the players, before reporting its findings to the Board of Directors.
- to request a meeting with the BCCI.
- to schedule an urgent debriefing with the West Indies Team Management Unit.
- to assure Cricket South Africa that it will use its best endeavours to ensure a successful tour of South Africa as scheduled.
The WICB is mindful of the related decisions of the BCCI Working Committee.
In light of the longstanding good relationship between WICB and BCCI, which goes back decades and has produced numerous mutual benefits, the WICB looks forward to meeting with the BCCI to discuss these decisions which can have serious implications for West Indies cricket.
WICB believes that a way can be found to repair the damage that has been caused and to ensure that similar events do not recur, with the focus being on the betterment of West Indies and world cricket.
The WICB thanks all stakeholders, particularly the ICC, BCCI, their broadcasters and sponsors for their patience and understanding in this matter and looks forward to the continuation of a strong relationship between our Boards.
The WICB is committed to acting as expeditiously as the situation allows, and will provide further information to the public as soon as it is appropriate to do so.
