West Indies might not abandon India tour after all

The remainder of the West Indies’ ongoing tour of India remained in the balance on Friday.

A payment structure dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and West Indies Players Association saw the ODI series abruptly cut short.

Friday’s fourth ODI at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharmasala was confirmed as the last of a series that was scheduled to feature six limited-overs fixtures and three Tests.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the curtailment, after the West Indies team management had revealed the decision earlier in the day. The BCCI soon sought and found replacement opposition in Sri Lanka, who committed to playing five ODIs from 1 November.

The WICB, however, countered: “The West Indies Cricket Board advises, that, contrary to media reports, it has taken no decision to discontinue the ongoing tour to India. The WICB will make a further statement following the conclusion of the fourth ODI.”

The main cause of the impasse between the WICB and WIPA is the memorandum of understanding and the combined bargaining agreement signed in September. Player representative and captain Dwayne Bravo had claimed WIPA president and CEO Wavell Hinds had signed the financial document without the contracted squad’s consent.

Latest