BCCI demands $42m in damages from WICB over cancellation of India tour

The WICB abandoned the India tour after the 4th ODI in Dharamsala

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has demanded approximately $42m as damages from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for cancelling the India tour midway through the series. Calling the decision to pull out of the tour a “monumental disaster” in its four-page letter addressed to the WICB, the BCCI has threatened to take legal action if the West Indies board does not respond to the letter within 15 days.

Originally scheduled to play five ODIs, one T20 and three Tests, the West Indies players decided to abandon the series after the fourth ODI in Dharamsala on October 17 due to their ongoing dispute with the WICB and West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA).

The BCCI, however, have been far from pleased from the decision, with BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel communicating to WICB president Dave Cameron on Friday, through the sternly-worded letter, that if WICB did not reply within the alloted time about how it intended to compensate the losses in “acceptable terms”, they would have no option but to take the legal route.

"Pending resolutions of all disputes the BCCI suspends all bilateral cricketing relations with the WICB," Patel’s letter, a copy of which is with ESPNcricinfo, stated.

Patel said that they understood the gravity of the issue as soon as West Indies ODI captain Dwayne Bravo said that they would be left with no option but to take extreme steps if the issue wasn’t resolved to their liking, and added that the West Indies team continued playing till the fourth ODI only at the behest of senior BCCI officials.

Monumental disaster for the BCCI

Patel added that the Indian board was facing serious financial ramifications due to the pullout, and that their reputation of being a commercially viable partner was at risk.

"The BCCI is faced with huge revenue losses, a loss of reputation and is at risk of losing valuable commercial partners," Patel wrote. "The consequences of cancellation of a committed home Tour during the biggest festival season Diwali in India is a monumental disaster for the BCCI. It is during this season that our partners derive the most value from their rights.

"Our broadcaster had committed to its advertisers during this season and on account of your actions, is facing a severe crisis the effects of which are felt by the BCCI. The BCCI holds the WICB responsible and liable for all such consequences and intends to enforce its rights to seek compensation from the WICB to the fullest extent permissible in law."

Sri Lanka series not enough to offset losses

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has filled in for West Indies’ absence by agreeing to play a five-match ODI series beginning on November 2, but Patel said that it hasn’t compensated for the heavy losses they have incurred.

"This is because the Sri Lanka Cricket Board has not committed to any additional tour of India but has only advanced its 2015 Tour to 2014. In return, the BCCI has agreed to tour Sri Lanka in 2015 whereby it has permanently and irretrievably lost a valuable home tour," he wrote.

Patel hit out at the WICB for being irresponsible and having complete disregard of their legal commitments despite being fully aware of the financial dynamics involved in losing out on matches in a home series.

"The adverse financial ramifications and the negative impact of your action to unilaterally cancel the remainder of the Tour was well within your understanding, yet you still went ahead and cancelled the Tour in complete disregard of your legal commitments.

"The WICB is also aware that each National Board is committed to touring each other in a given period such that the schedule of tours between each of the Boards is fixed 8 years in advance. Such touring obligations are on a reciprocal basis so as to reflect not only fairness in ranking but also equal opportunity to each Board. As such, given the limited windows of opportunity and the long-term schedule of tours as between the National Cricket Boards, rescheduling of Tours within the 8-year period becomes impossible," the letter further stated.