WICB Media Release.

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:

1. 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.

2. to request a meeting with the BCCI.

3. to schedule an urgent debriefing with the West Indies Team Management Unit.

4. 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.

WICB Media Release.

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ICC chides West Indies players

By Azad Ali from Caribbean Life

Cricket’s world governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has chided the West Indies cricketers who abruptly abandoned the recent tour of India and has warned that any such future strikes could result in disciplinary action.

In a strongly worded statement, the ICC labeled the players’ controversial action as “extremely disruptive, damaging and unacceptable” and said it would take steps to ensure the episode did not occur.

“The ICC and all of its member boards noted with deep disappointment the recent decision of the West Indies players to abandon an international tour without fulfilling the contractually agreed playing obligations between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the Board of Control for Cricket India in India,” the ICC said.

“Players who behave in a similar manner in the future will not only risk breaching the disciplinary rules of the relevant member board and being sanctioned accordingly, but may also put in jeopardy their ability to coincide future contractual arrangements with domestic franchises or clubs in other jurisdictions,” the ICC said.

In an unprecedented move, the West Indies players quit their tour of India last month over a pay dispute.

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/stories/2014/11/2014-11-13-azad-cricket-cl_2014_11.html

West Indies select full-strength squad for SA tour

From Caribbean Life

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua (AP) _ Less than a month after a pay dispute derailed its tour to India, the West Indies has selected a full-strength squad for a series in South Africa next month.

But it comes with a caveat.

Chief Selector Clive Lloyd said the players must sign a tour contract by Nov. 18 or they’ll miss out on the three-test series starting Dec. 17.

Denesh Ramdin was retained as captain and star batsman Chris Gayle was included in the squad announced Wednesday.

“Of course at all times the selection panel aims to select the best and strongest team available,” Lloyd said. “We look forward to this squad giving a good account of themselves for the three tests in South Africa.”

Lloyd, a former test and World Cup-winning captain, had to apologize last month for the West Indies’ abrupt withdrawal less than halfway through its India tour, which left furious local organizers threatening legal action and scrambling to organize replacement matches against Sri Lanka.

“I did not want it to end like this. It’s unfortunate we left, and I hope the damage is not irreparable,” Lloyd said at the time.

The International Cricket Council described the West Indies’ withdrawal from the tour as “damaging and unacceptable” and indicated that such behavior in future would jeopardize players’ participation in lucrative domestic tournaments like the Indian Premier League.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India, which is the most powerful stakeholder in international cricket with vast revenues from sponsorship and TV deals, has suspended bilateral ties with the West Indies and also claimed $42 million as compensation for lost revenue.

There was initially concern about the South Africa tour going ahead, but the West Indies management has taken the first step in proceeding by selecting the squad while an investigation into the India tour is ongoing.

“There is a significant amount of international cricket to be played over the next six months, including test matches against some of the higher-ranked teams in world cricket and as such it would be critical for the squad to get off on a positive note in South Africa,” Lloyd said.

The three-test series will be followed by three Twenty20 matches and five limited-overs internationals. The World Cup starts February in Australia and New Zealand.

West Indies squad: Denesh Ramdin (captain), Sulieman Benn, Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Braithwaite, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Christopher Gayle, Jason Holder, Leon Johnson, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton.

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/stories/2014/11/2014-11-14-ap-westindies-cl_2014_11.html