West Indies women's future in doubt?

The future of West Indies women's cricket could be in doubt. They have played no international cricket for the last two years and as yet they have no plans to play any more until the next World Cup in Australia in 2009 - plunging their participation in that event into serious jeopardy.

West Indies, who gained automatic qualification for the 2009 World Cup at the last tournament in 2005, struggled for funding then, but this time they may struggle even for practice - although this may change if they do manage to arrange any games. It is hoped, by the ICC at least, that they will: nobody from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) would provide a comment when Cricinfo contacted them on several occasions.

The ICC told Cricinfo that it had written to the board to ask about its plans. "We hope that the WICB is in touch with other cricket boards to arrange matches for its women's side. We are working closely with the WICB and our other member countries to continue the development of women's cricket around the world."

Should West Indies not meet their minimum requirements (as yet to be determined by the ICC) then the third-placed finalist from the World Cup qualifiers later on in the year would replace them [at the 2009 World Cup] in 2009 - the top two teams from the qualifiers will already go through.