BCCI to consider lifting sanctions on WICB

The BCCI in its annual general meeting on November 9 is set to deliberate whether to revoke the suspension imposed on bilateral tours with West Indies following their team's pull-out midway through the India tour last October.

The BCCI had slapped punitive damages on the WICB amounting to $41.97 million, calling the abandonment of the India tour a "monumental disaster". That notice was sent by former BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel, who served under the previous BCCI administration which was led by N Srinivasan. Subsequently, the WICB had communicated to the BCCI its inability to pay the damages thereby raising serious doubts over India's tour of the West Indies, scheduled for next summer.

But hope has emerged for West Indies following the October 17 meeting between WICB president Dave Cameron and chief executive Michael Muirhead with the BCCI top brass in Mumbai, which took place a day before the BCCI's working committee meeting. The working committee on October 18 was briefed that the WICB, besides tendering several apologies, had conveyed to the BCCI its inability to compensate financially. Instead, the WICB expressed its desire to make up for it by touring India for a series in 2017. If the AGM accepts the proposal, it will mean India will play four Tests in the West Indies in July-August next year as per schedule.