West Indies players could boycott India ODIs

The chances of the proposed one-day series between India and West Indies in Canada in September going ahead is growing increasingly unlikely after it emerged that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) had entered into a deal with its Indian counterparts without consulting its players.

Under the terms of a memorandum between the WICB and the West Indies Players' Association agreed earlier this year, the board undertook not to increase the number of matches without reaching prior consultation with, and agreement of, WIPA.

Any series in Canada would be outside the Future Tours Programme and, as such, needed the specific agreement of WIPA before any commitment was made.

It is reported that a deal was struck with the Indians by Ken Gordon, the WICB president, while he was in London attending the recent ICC AGM. If that is the case then not only did Gordon fail to consult with WIPA, he also kept his own board in the dark. If so, then it would not be the first time he had done that. Back in May, it was claimed that Gordon appointed Brian Lara without following the usual protocol of getting the full board's approval.

It is possible that Gordon might be forced into an embarrassing about-turn were the players to refuse to participate in the series. The mood among them is not good after a series of ongoing disagreements with the WICB, and although the board desperately needs the income the matches would generate to alleviate its serious financial problems, the players might decide that this is where they make their stand.

The details of the Canada series are still being thrashed out, but if it fails to come off then it is believed that India are looking at the possibilities of an alternative tri-series featuring West Indies and Australia somewhere in Asia.