Sunday 9 November 2014 15:32, UK
The International Cricket Council has warned players that they may face sanctions at international and club level if they are involved in the sort of dispute which led to the West Indies cancelling their recent tour of India.
The West Indies pulled out of last month's trip with three Tests, a fifth one-day international and one Twenty20 match unfulfilled following a dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players' Association over sponsorship payments.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India responded with a £26.2million damages claim against the WICB, which it holds solely responsible for the financial loss incurred due to the cancellation.
Following an ICC meeting on Sunday, the world governing body issued a statement warning against any repeat of the cancellation.
No specific sanctions were laid out, but there was a warning that players could put into doubt their participation in domestic leagues in countries affected by tour pull-outs.
The statement read: "The ICC and all of its member boards on Sunday noted with deep disappointment the recent decision of the West Indies players to abandon an international tour without fulfilling the contractually agreed playing obligations.
"Putting aside the legitimacy or otherwise of any grievances of parties involved (which are now the subject of a domestic Task Force probe), the ICC and all member boards noted that players abandoning tours have the potential to cause irrevocable damage to the sport in the jurisdiction of the relevant member board concerned as well as enormous financial damage, which might adversely affect the financial viability of the sport itself.
"With that in mind, and in a show of solidarity, all member boards collectively expressed the view that they consider such player action to be extremely disruptive, damaging and unacceptable.
"Players who behave in a similar manner in the future will not only risk breaching the disciplinary rules of the relevant member board and being sanctioned accordingly, but may also put in jeopardy their ability to conclude future contractual arrangements with domestic franchises or clubs in other jurisdictions."
