Cricket is termed as the ‘˜gentleman’s game’ but that was not seen in the way West Indies cricket board have called off the series with India with immediate effect after playing out the 4th ODI at Dharamsala.
Cricket is termed as the ‘gentleman’s game’ but that was not seen in the way West Indies cricket board and its players as the former have called off the series with India with immediate effect after playing out the 4th ODI at Dharamsala.
The reason for the tour be called short is because of an ongoing payment structure dispute between the WICB and WIPA.
According to reports in the media, the West Indies team management had informed the board officials of their decision before the 4th ODI.
With that news of calling off the series mean that there would be no fifth ODI, no T20 match and no three-Test series amongst the two teams.
BCCI have already looked onto replacements and it seems Sri Lanka will be the side visiting India next month to play a 5-match ODI series. As for the BCCI, the home board was not satisfied with the pulling out of the Caribbean side. “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 the WICB,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel released a statement to the press.
The West Indies players were in a slog fight with the WICB on the lines of payment issues being the sole concern behind this whole ruckus. The players protested the whole issues by wearing black armbands in the second ODI against India. The issue begins with the West Indies players disagreeing the new terms of WIPA’s (West Indies Player Association) CBA/MOU deal with the WICB. Dwayne Bravo and his men were of the argument that the new contract reduced their income and that their Test, ODI and Twenty20 fees had been decreased by 75 percent.
They further go onto claim that their International Cricket Council (ICC) fees have been decreased by “close to 100 percent” and that they would not reimburse for the use of their rights under the new deal.
Thus putting in the whole consideration of the issue between the West Indies players and their board, the loser is none other than the spectator! Even though the BCCI has called in the Sri Lankan team to paper over the cracks, the West Indies board is losing its sheen and most importantly the fan base.
Since the invent of IPL, most of the West Indies players have thronged the minds and hearts of Indian fans especially the likes of Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard.
But with none happening, the board has not only disrupted the ‘spirit of the game’ but the roots as well.
