West Indies to abandon India tour

A payment structure dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and West Indies Players Association has seen the ongoing tour of India abruptly cut short.

Friday’s fourth ODI at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharmasala will be 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 confirmed the curtailment, after the West Indies team management had revealed the decision earlier in the day. The BCCI will soon seek replacement opposition, likely Sri Lanka.

“The BCCI is shocked and extremely disappointed at the decision taken by the WICB. The WICB’s inability to resolve internal issues with its players and allowing the same to affect an ongoing bilateral series does not reflect well on any of those involved. The withdrawal gives little thought to the future of the game, the players and the long standing relations between the BCCI and WICB,” read a statement from the BCCI.

“The BCCI wishes to inform all its stakeholders, especially ardent fans of the Indian cricket team, that this is a unilateral decision taken by the WICB and its players, in spite of several appeals to the WICB to honour its commitment and complete the series. The BCCI will pursue all options available to protect its rights, whilst seeking appropriate action from the ICC to ensure that its interests and those of the game at large will not suffer any damage due to such acts of indiscretion.”

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.