The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has approached the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to play a series of limited overs matches before the September 30 Champions Trophy cut off date, so that they stand a chance of making the cut.
The West Indies team is currently ranked ninth on the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI rankings and once this situation remains until the cut off date, they will miss the next Champions Trophy in England in 2017.
The WICB approached Zimbabwe Cricket Union to play a tri-series with them and Pakistan but the Pakistanis opted out as they are currently occupying the eighth place in the rankings and a loss could relegate them to ninth, and subject them to missing the tournament.
As a result, the WICB approached the BCCI with a request to come to India for three matches before the cut off date. If the West Indies win that series, they will make the cut ahead of Pakistan.
T&T Guardian understands that the BCCI has given a positive response but nothing has been confirmed. Checks with Anurag Thakur, the BCCI general secretary, proved futile.
India has severed all bi-lateral ties with the West Indies after the Caribbean side walked out of a limited overs series against the Indians last October in India. Since then the BCCI has submitted a bill to the WICB claiming a US$41.97 million which the WICB is yet to honour.
A couple months ago, WICB president Dave Cameron said he was looking for a “cricketing solution” in order to pay off the debt and this may be the solution, as the series is likely to generate substantial revenue for the BCCI. (Trinidad Guardian)
