West Indies count the cost of washouts

Washout in Trinidad © Getty Images Enlarge

The heavy rain throughout the Caribbean which has decimated the one-day series with England has left the West Indies board facing considerable losses. Three of the four matches to date have been abandoned, and the forecast for this weekend's double-header in St Lucia is grim.

The losses to date - full refunds are already owed to everyone who bought tickets for the last three games - total over US$ 1m, and these grow with every subsequent abandonment. The board are partially covered by insurance, but its real concern is that as a result premiums for the 2007 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place at the same time of year, will be increased massively.

Unlike other regions where the gate receipts are dwarfed by income from television, in the Caribbean it's the paying punters who still account for the bulk of the board's income. "We can never compete for money with the likes of England who negotiated a television deal of £147m last time, Darren Millien, the board's chief commercial officer," told The Independent. "We don't know what is to happen yet but this is a huge missed opportunity because England is easily our biggest tour."

Calls have already started for the World Cup to be rescheduled - the ICC is expected to discuss the idea of bringing the tournament forward by a few weeks this weekend when it assembles in St Lucia - but locals stress that this weather is unseasonal. For the bulk of the region, the rains do not usually start until late May or early June, and April-May should be dry and hot.

But try telling that to those with little else to do but sit and watch the rain fall.