The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has blamed the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for putting the series in jeopardise because of internal issues. India-Windies series came to an abrupt end when WICB decided to pull out of the tour owing to pay dispute.
BCCI strongly condemned the decisions taken by the WICB for pulling out of the tour in a press release during the fourth one-dayer and threatened to take legal action against the Caribbean board.
Sanjay Patel, BCCI secretory, after the match said they were in constant touch with the Windies board to get the clear picture of the dispute between the board and the players. Patel also revealed that he told WICB president Dave Cameron not to let their internal disputes affect the series.
“We needed clarity and reaffirmation of their commitment about the tour, so I told Mr Cameron to confirm to us by Thursday that the series will not be interrupted,” Patel said. “I told him you cannot put an international series in jeopardy due to internal issues. No board should let internal issues affect international cricket, after all.” [Read More: West Indies abruptly pull out of India tour]
The BCCI also revealed that the West Indies players were determined not to play the fourth one-dayer in Dharamshala and it took last bit convincing from Anurag Thakur, the BCCI joint-secretary to persuade Windies players to take the field. [Read More: India beat West Indies in fourth ODI to clinch series]
“Despite (attempting) every bit of convincing, they were hell bent on not playing,” Thakur said. “Before the BCCI decided to prepare a formal announcement (on the status of the tour), I personally went up to the players in order to talk them into not pulling out (of the Dharamsala ODI) and fortunately succeeded in my quest.”
Following the chain of events during the fourth ODI, the BCCI issued a ten point statement regarding the withdrawal of West Indies. [Read More: BCCI confirms five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka]
The timeline of the WICB’s withdrawal is mentioned below:
7 October 2014:
Mr. Dave Cameron sent a copy of a letter addressed to Mr. Wavell Hinds, which stated that the failure of the West Indies players to take the field will leave the WICB with – ‘no alternative but to cancel the match and notify the BCCI accordingly and recall the team.’
8 October 2014:
Around 3:00 am India time, Mr. Dave Cameron sent a mail to the BCCI stating he is withdrawing the team from the tour. Mr. Sanjay Patel rushed to Kochi and spoke to the WI players and managed to get on with the match.
12 October 2014:
Mr. Patel met Mr. Cameron in Dubai and asked him for a confirmation that the rest of the tour will go on. Mr. Cameron assured that by close of business on Wednesday 15 October, he will confirm one way or the other.
AM of 16 October 2014:
There was no response from Mr. Cameron.
PM of 16 October 2014:
Mr. Patel sent a reminder mail to Mr. Cameron, seeking an urgent response.
17 October 2014 – 3:00 am:
Mr. Cameron sent a response stating that ‘WICB are not able to provide any assurances or guarantees’ and that WICB will communicate their position by end of the day on 17 October.
17 October 2014 – 10:00 am
Mr. Richard Pybus of the WICB sent a mail to the BCCI stating
‘WICB’s position is that if the players refuse to play then the players must return home and the rest of the ODI and Test tour is called off. This has been discussed with the WICB President and CEO and they are fully aware of developments here.’
17 October – 2:00 pm
Mr. Richie Richardson sent a mail to the BCCI stating the following:
‘Despite agreeing to play the 4th ODI in Dharamshala, regrettably, the current West Indies players have decided that they will not participate any further in this tour and wish to return home after this match. In light of this, I suggest that the entire squad travel to Delhi tomorrow and be booked into a hotel there, until international return flights have been booked. On behalf of the entire squad and WICB, I apologise for the inconvenience caused.’
This makes it clear that all along, the WICB was withdrawing its team if a resolution was not reached in the issue with their players.
