HYDERABAD, India, CMC – The West Indies Cricket Board seems unlikely to escape a lawsuit over its players’ sudden abandonment of the Indian tour, after Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) interim president N. Shivlal Yadav said Monday that all indications pointed towards court action.
Shivlal Yadav will chair a high-level meeting of the BCCI’s working committee here Tuesday which will decide on appropriate action for West Indies who walked out of the tour following last Friday’s fourth One-Day International in Dharamsala.
The tourists were also scheduled to play a fifth ODI yesterday, a Twenty20 International tomorrow and a three-Test series starting October 30th.
“It was an internal problem of the WICB. But, since it meant a huge loss both financially and otherwise, the general mood in the BCCI is to take action for their abrupt move,” the Hindu newspaper quoted Shivlal Yadav as saying.
“Since the pull out happened on the Indian tour, we will be moving the Court of Law here in India. Our legal counsel is on the job.”
International media reports have bandied around figures of up to US$65 million, which the BCCI could claim in losses for the abandoned tour. Series involving India are of high commercial value, attracting large global audiences and high sponsorship.
Shivlal Yadav said that the BCCI had been set to make substantial amounts from the series against West Indies.
“The figures are quite clear. The BCCI is getting more than Rs. 40 crore (US$6.5 million) per match from television broadcasters. There will be a huge loss to the BCCI because of WICB’s decision,” the senior Indian official explained.
West Indies players are upset over a change in their Collective Bargaining Agreement with the WICB, which they claim results in a drastic reduction in their earnings. While on tour, they lobbied their union, the West Indies Players Association for a change to the agreement, and also threatened to withdraw their services if no resolution was forthcoming.
