India cut ties with WI
Enraged BCCI throws Future Tours Programme booklet out of the window with regard to bilateral series against Windies but makes no mention of the damages it seeks to claim for the mid- tour pull- out
An enraged Board of Control for Cricket in India has expectedly cracked the whip. It crumpled up the Future Tours Programme booklet and threw it out of the window with regard to bilateral series against the West Indies.
In swift action, taken at the working committee meeting that lasted hardly half- an- hour on Tuesday, the BCCI unanimously resolved to cut ties with the West Indies Cricket Board. “All bilateral tours between BCCI and WICB stand suspended,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said in a statement shortly afterwards.
BCCI big wigs and ICC chairman N. Srinivasan who was also at a city hotel where the meeting was held, were united as they voiced concern over the West Indies team calling off the tour and have decided to head to the courts.
“BCCI will initiate legal proceedings against West Indies Cricket Board due to the abrupt cancellation of this tour,” Patel said.
Though the BCCI did not mention the damages it seeks to claim for the Windies’ vanishing act, the loss of revenue is estimated to be ` 400 crore for the 12 days of matchplay lost. The number is after taking into consideration the five One- Day Internationals against Sri Lanka that have been arranged hurriedly. The West Indians left with 17 days of play — three Tests, an ODI and a Twenty20 — still remaining.
The West Indies were scheduled to play an ODI in Kolkata, a Twenty20 in Cuttack and Tests in Hyderabad, Bangalore and Ahmedabad when they cut short their tour. Barring Bengaluru, all other venues have been compensated. “The venues for the five ODIs ( against Sri Lanka) will be Cuttack, Hyderabad, Ranchi, Kolkata and Ahmedabad,” the BCCI said.
The BCCI also placed on record their appreciation for the Sri Lankan cricket board’s “gesture of having accepted our request to play five ODIs starting November 2, at such a short notice.”
“This tour is in lieu of their scheduled tour to India next year which will be reciprocated by India touring Sri Lanka in July-August,” the BCCI said.