Windies will play in WC despite shock withdrawal from India tour, says official

Cricket World Cup chief executive John Harnden has said that he is confident that the West Indies squad would take part in next year's tournament, despite their shock withdrawal from a tour of India.

The West Indies cut short their India tour this month over an internal pay dispute, despite a fifth and final ODI, a Twenty20 match and three Tests still to be played and the situation raised doubts as to whether they would be able to fulfill its upcoming international engagements, including a tour of South Africa followed by the World Cup.

Harnden said that he was confident the issues would be resolved and the West Indies would play in the World Cup being jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand from mid-February, The Dawn reported.

Harnden said that they see that everyone's very focused on resolving the situation as quickly as possible, adding that they have got 108 days until the World Cup and from their point of view he has no doubt the West Indies would be there and entertaining the crowd as only they know how.

The World Cup 2015 will begin on February 14, with New Zealand taking on Sri Lanka in Christchurch and England facing Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the report added.