Panel named to probe Windies abandoning India tour

St. John's (Antigua), Nov 7 (IANS/CMC) A prominent attorney, a leading businessman and a former cricketer have been appointed on a Task Force setup to probe the circumstances that led to the dramatic pull out by the senior West Indies cricketers from their tour of India.

Michael Gordon QC will head the Task Force that includes chartered insurer Dennis Lalor and Wes Hall, a former pacer, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced following a meeting of its Board of Directors by teleconference Thursday, reports CMC.

WICB attorney Alanna Medford has been named as secretary to the Task Force which may include additional members pending the agreement of the current members, a WICB statement released after the meeting said.

The Task Force is expected to meet with all parties including the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and the players, before reporting its findings to the board.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have cancelled tours to the Caribbean and has demanded compensation of $42 million after striking West Indies players left their tour of India with five fixtures still to play, including three Tests.

"The WICB confirms receipt of a letter from the BCCI. The WICB will continue to use its best endeavours to meet with the BCCI to discuss all relevant matters pertaining to the premature end to the tour of India," the WICB statement said.

"The WICB respects the decisions of the BCCI but continues to trust that discussions can result in a mutually agreeable resolution. The WICB reiterates that the events which led to the premature end to the tour of India were extremely unfortunate and the WICB is committed to ensuring that such events do not recur."

The West Indies players pulled out of the tour of India because they were angry with WIPA over a change in their Collective Bargaining Agreement with the WICB.

The players claimed that the new agreement has resulted in a drastic reduction in their earnings.

Reports suggest that a resolution has now been reached between the players and WIPA.

--IANS/CMC

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