Friday 17 October 2014 23:34, UK
India cricket officials are being urged to press for financial compensation from the West Indies due to the tourists failing to complete their tour.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced during Friday's fourth ODI that the tourists' management had informed them they were set to leave after the match in a simmering pay dispute between players and their own governing body.
But the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) initially denied the tour had been called off before releasing a statement following an emergency meeting to confirm that it had been halted.
The confusion soured the ongoing match, which India won by 59 runs after scoring 330-6 to take a 2-1 lead in the ODI series.
By the time India had bowled out the West Indies for 271 to win the game in Dharamsala, the BCCI had already announced five one-day internationals against Sri Lanka to cover the void left by the tour being abandoned halfway through.
Later, BCCI honorary joint secretary Anurag Thakur - who is also the president of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), the local governing body - urged strong action, including for India to sever all cricketing ties with the West Indies.
"I think such a move is required so that in future no cricket players or board should indulge in such kind of behaviour that goes against the game of cricket," Thakur was quoted as saying to the Times of India.
"First, the BCCI should file a complaint with the ICC about the behaviour of players and the West Indies board.
"Second, in order to have successful future tours, BCCI should not play with the Windies. Third, they should also file a claim for compensation with the WICB - the amount of revenue they are going to lose.
"And fourth, not only the BCCI but also the local associations, that have spent truckloads of money to get everything in place only to have one of the teams pull out, should take necessary actions.
"I think the BCCI should consider isolating the West Indies. If the board has suffered financial loss, if it has suffered in terms of cricket, broadcasting and other areas, then why not? You need to set an example."
The tourists were due to play a fifth ODI followed by a Twenty20 international and three Tests.
Thakur also revealed the West Indies players had been close to pulling out of the fourth ODI itself, only to be convinced at the last minute.
"Before the BCCI decided to prepare a formal announcement, I personally went up to the players in order to talk them into not pulling out and fortunately succeeded in my quest," he said.
"As far as the HPCA is concerned, we persuaded them and they played the game. So it is now up to the BCCI to deal with the matter in whatever way they want."
