The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has expressed deep embarrassment and sorrow at the recent pull out of the team from the tour of India. The West Indies team, following a pay dispute with the administrators, >had called off the tour with an ODI, a T20 and three Tests left to be played.
At a meeting held in Bridgetown, Barbados on Tuesday, the WICB outlined steps to deal with the situation arising out of the BCCI’s decision to suspend all bilateral competitions between the two countries.
“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 WICB said in a press release.
Promising a careful and systematic review of relevant events, the WICB said, it had decided to set up 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 (West Indies Players Association) and the players, before reporting its findings to the Board of Directors.
The WICB, apart from seeking a meeting with the BCCI, will schedule an “urgent debriefing with the West Indies Team Management Unit”.
The WICB maintained that in light of the longstanding good relationship between it and BCCI, which goes back decades and has produced numerous mutual benefits, it looks forward to meeting with the BCCI to discuss these decisions which can have serious implications for West Indies cricket.
The WICB, while thanking all stakeholders, particularly the ICC (International Cricket Council), BCCI, their broadcasters and sponsors for their “patience and understanding in this matter,” also stressed that it looked forward to the continuation of a strong relationship.
