WEST INDIES CRICKET BOARD (WICB) directors have assembled for an emergency board meeting at the Accra Beach Hotel.
The meeting has been convened to discuss developments in the aftermath of the West Indies players withdrawing their services, forcing the WICB to discontinue a tour of India.
It is anticipated that the WICB will conduct a thorough assessment of all the ramifications and take any action which may be necessary.
Most of the 18-member board were present for the start of the meeting just after 10 a.m today, but three directors travelling from St Kitts were delayed due to the late arrival of flights. Additionally, two non-member directors are not attending the meeting.
It is expected that the session will run into the evening after which the WICB will make an announcement.
Before the meeting started, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made a decision to proceed with legal action against the WICB and also suspended future tours.
“The BCCI will initiate legal proceedings against the WICB due to the abrupt cancellation of this tour,” said BCCI honorary secretary Sanjay Patel after a meeting involving a working committee of the board.
“All bilateral tours between BCCI and WICB stand suspended.”
Last Friday, the WICB announced it was discontinuing the tour of India with three Tests, One-Day International and one Twenty20 International still to be played.
The decision was made following the withdrawal of the players’ services because of a dispute with the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) following the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the WICB.
Unhappy that they were not consulted by WIPA president and chief executive officer Wavell Hinds prior to the signing of the MOU/CBA, the players complained of significant pay cuts and asked the WICB to maintain the previous structure until a new agreement was reached. (HG)
