India did not accept a second-string West Indies combination to complete the engagements, according to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). This was revealed by the WICB in a statement on Saturday.
The Board of Directors of the WICB held an emergency meeting in St. John’s, Antigua to discuss the developments with regard to the West Indies tour of India. “The WICB wishes to clarify that its proposed alternative arrangement of a replacement West Indies team was not considered acceptable,” said the statement.
Blaming the players for the unpleasant developments in India that led to the cancellation of the tour, the WICB said, “the players in the West Indies squad currently in India, represented by Mr. Dwayne Bravo, indicated to the WICB through the West Indies team management that the players have taken a decision to withdraw their services for the remainder of the tour of India. As a result of this action by the players the WICB was left with no option but to advise the BCCI that it will no longer be able to provide a West Indies team for the remaining five matches (fifth ODI, T20 International, three Test matches).”
In a move to placate the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the WICB said it “unreservedly apologises to West Indian fans and all cricket fans for this most regrettable situation and the premature end to the tour. The WICB unreservedly apologises to the BCCI, their sponsors, broadcasters and other stakeholders for the premature end to the tour.
“The WICB thanks the BCCI, their sponsors, broadcasters, other stakeholders and fans for their patience and understanding during the first four ODIs. The WICB wishes the BCCI every success with the proposed alternative arrangements and looks forward to the continuation of the strong and long-standing relationship between the two boards.”
Problems from start The WICB confessed the tour had problems from the start. “The WICB clarifies further that as a result of postulations by the players, the tour was under a cloud of uncertainty from the inception.
The WICB, acting prudently, advised the host board — BCCI — of the developments and remained in constant contact to provide updates as to the threat of possible player action.”
According to the WICB, “As a result of the action taken by the players the Board was forced with no other option but to discontinue the tour. The Board once again apologises unreservedly for the premature end to the tour.”
The WICB also confirmed that it had planned to send a delegation to India to sort out the issue.
“The delegation had been scheduled to arrive in India on October 20. This was necessary as the WICB did not have an opportunity to so do in the Caribbean due to the logistical challenges of assembling all the players prior to departure for the tour of India (some of the players were already in India participating in the Champions League).”
Sequence of events
Sept 19: West Indies Players’ Association head Wavell Hinds and West Indies Cricket Board president Whycliffe Dave Cameron sign a collective bargaining agreement and MoU.
Oct 7: The squad considers boycotting the first ODI in Kochi after Dwayne Bravo, the West Indies players’ representative, alleges that Hinds had ‘hoodwinked’ them into accepting massive pay-cuts.
Oct 8: West Indies plays in Kochi but Bravo calls for Hinds’s resignation. Hinds refutes Bravo’s charges, says senior West Indies players had expressed “100 per cent support for the initiative”.
Oct 10: Bravo replies that “he supported the proposal 100 per cent but certain conditions must be discussed, one of them being no pay drop.”
Oct 11: Bravo writes to WICB president Dave Cameron, seeking his intervention.
Oct 16: WICB says it will engage only with the WIPA, and not the players, to resolve the issue.
Oct 17: The players stand firm. WICB calls off tour saying that it was “left no option.”
