The West Indies team may play five One-Day Internationals later this year in India in order to compensate for the $42 million revenue loss the BCCI suffered last year.
The tour came to an abrupt halt following the Dwayne Bravo-led team’s quarrel with its Board and the players association on contract and fee related matters.
The West Indies won the first ODI at Kochi, lost at Delhi and Dharamsala; it did not play at the cyclone-hit Visakhapatnam and refused to play at Kolkata. “We are exploring opportunities for a five-match ODI series. This time we will take guaranties from the West Indies Cricket Board,’’ said a BCCI official.
Last year the BCCI working committee suspended bilateral tours with the West Indies and claimed a damage of $42 million (approximately Rs. 258 crore) from the WICB as a result of the abandoned tour.
No alternative On its part the WICB expressed inability to pay a high sum and instead suggested bilateral cricketing solutions. A positive outcome to the negotiations between the two Boards will boost the BCCI 2015-16 income by in excess of Rs.200 crore. This will be in addition to Rs. 400 crore plus income the BCCI will receive from 11 home internationals against South Africa (four Test matches, five ODIs and two Twenty20 matches). “The WICB has no alternative, but to come and play. The Rs. 600 crore plus revenue will help the BCCI to disburse subvention monies to 25 eligible member units,’’ said a BCCI official close to the developments on this particular matter.
When will the West Indies play? The five-match ODI series could happen in the period set aside for a series against Pakistan. This means there is a big question mark against resumption of ties between the BCCI and PCB.
The BCCI is also planning for a series in Sri Lanka after the World Cup; a reluctant Sri Lankan team led by Angelo Mathews played five ODIs following the unpleasant episode involving the West Indies; so the time has come for BCCI to reciprocate.
