West Indies and Pakistan discuss compensation

West Indies and Pakistan will discuss compensation with the ICC following Zimbabwe's withdrawal from Test cricket, which leaves both countries short of two-Test series they expected to hold this year.

The chief executive of the West Indies cricket board, Roger Braithwaite, told Cricinfo that they are currently weighing up the effect of no longer holding their two-Test series in April, which will impact on the income from television and sponsor rights. "Once all the implications have been assessed we will be speaking to the ICC," he explained. "We are currently undertaking an internal review into the situation first."

Pakistan are also set to discuss the issue this weekend, as Zimbabwe's decision means they are missing out on two Tests that had been scheduled for September. "I will be talking to ICC officials in Dubai on Saturday about this latest development which affects us directly," the Pakistan cricket board director, Saleem Altaf, told Reuters. "We have certain contractual obligations with our television broadcasters and...[they] have sold bundled sponsorship rights for a four-year period. We want to know from the ICC if there are financial liabilities on us, who will fulfill them."

Meanwhile, Braithwaite said that they have already been in discussion with Zimbabwe Cricket regarding the remaining one-day internationals, but could not comment on how the altered schedule would work. However, he added that he was not overly surprised by Zimbabwe's move to pull out of Test cricket: "It is obviously disappointing, but not a complete shock given the current situation."

India are the main visitors to West Indies during their home season, for four Tests and five ODIs. The tour is not scheduled to finish until early July, well into the rainy season for the Caribbean. But Braithwaite said there is no opportunity to bring the tour forward, even though it would be a bigger money-spinner than five ODIs against Zimbabwe. "There is very little flexibility regarding the India series as they have commitments against England"

Braithwaite also confirmed West Indies' commitment to the Future Tours Programme, but said that they were heavily involved with the discussions over a restructuring of the current five-year cycle. "As with all member counties we are committed to the FTP and are part of the discussions with the ICC about expanding to a 12-year programme - two cycles of six years - rather than the current two cycles of five years."