Canada decline to host ODI series

Indian fans in Canada will have to hold on the cheering © Getty Images Enlarge

Canada has declined to host the proposed one-day series between India and the West Indies in September. Lalit Modi, the BCCI vice-president, has disclosed that the Indian board received confirmation from the Canada Cricket Association (CCA) of their unwillingness to host the series this year.

This is a further jolt to a series shrouded in doubt after it was recently reported that the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) had threatened to boycott the series after a breach of contract. According to players, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) had entered into a deal with its Indian counterparts without consulting them.

Modi has said that India's next move was to find new competition and a new venue. "As far as the proposal to play a bilateral series at a neutral venue is concerned, we are still examining the possibilities," he told The Indian Express. "West Indies may not necessarily be the team nor Canada the venue. There are several other options available as far as a neutral venue is concerned. We can play in Asia [Singapore or Hong Kong] or the US or maybe Europe [Netherlands]. We had never confirmed Canada as a venue for any such series, nor West Indies as an opponent. In fact, their association got in touch with us to inform that they will not be able to play host to any proposed series this year."

Canada hosting the series in the future remains a likely option. "The CCA is ready to play host to any such proposed series from next year," Modi continued. "This is not pyjama cricket. We are not going to host something that is out of the ICC's Future Tours Programme. Likewise, every other aspect, like the teams, the venue, the facilities, will be taken into account well in advance before any confirmation comes about."

Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, remained confident of India finding another side to play against. "We have New Zealand, Australia and other teams who have shown genuine interest," he said. "If the West Indies do not want to play, it is their problem, not ours. We are flooded with offers."

A spokesman from the WICB was quoted by the Indian Express as commenting that "the matter would be sorted out amicably, in time. The players are yet to be updated about any such proposed series and there will definitely be a discussion held in this regard.''