Citing internal pay dispute, West Indies pulls out of India tour

The West Indies cricket team on Friday decided to pull out of its ongoing tour of India, citing a pay-related dispute between the players and the cricket board. The one-day international (ODI) in Dharamsala would be the last encounter between the two teams.

Stating that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was 'shocked and extremely disappointed', Honorary Secretary Sanjay Patel, in a statement said that the board will seek appropriate action from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"The BCCI is shocked and extremely disappointed at the decision taken by the WICB (West Indies Cricket Board). 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," the statement read.

"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 statement added.

The dispute was started by West Indies Players Association (WIPA) president Wavell Hinds claiming that the West Indian players had agreed to forego sponsorship payment to enhance the pay structure of 90 regional first-class cricketers during the WIPA annual general meeting in February this year. Hinds's statement led West Indies ODI captain Dwayne Bravo to state that the WIPA president had 'hoodwinked' the players.