India suspends all future tours with West Indies

E-Paper | October 13, 2026

India suspends all future tours with West Indies

Reuters Published October 21, 2014

NEW DELHI: The Indian cricket board suspended all future tours with West Indies on Tuesday, and said it will take legal action against the Caribbean board for their team's abrupt pullout from their India tour last week.

“BCCI will initiate legal proceedings against West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) due to the abrupt cancellation of this tour,” Indian cricket board secretary Sanjay Patel said in a statement.

“All bilateral tours between BCCI and WICB stand suspended,” he added after the board's working committee meeting in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

The tourists abandoned the series after Friday's fourth one-dayer, with another one-dayer, a Twenty20 international and three test matches left to play, over a protracted payment dispute between the players and their board.

To fill the void, the BCCI swiftly arranged a five-match One Day International series with Sri Lanka next month.

“The members appreciated the gesture of the Sri Lankan Cricket Board for having accepted our request to play 5 ODIs starting from 2nd of November 2014, at such a short notice,” Patel said.

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Bhargav

Oct 21, 2014 02:09pm

I feel BCCI must help WICB to come out of this crisis instead of pushing them into a deeper crisis by taking Legal Action....There are only 8 Cricket Boards today which can be considered world Class (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, WI, Australia, NZ, England & South Africa)... Taking away one of them only makes Cricket Weaker, Sad day for Cricket!

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Sajjad Razza

Oct 21, 2014 02:14pm

Arrogance !

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S_L

Oct 21, 2014 02:24pm

@Bhargav Their personal issues cost BCCI millions,it is the least that BCCI could have done.

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wondi

Oct 21, 2014 02:26pm

BCCI is already stopped playing with Pakistan ..............now they banned west indies.............in coming days BCCI will ban all the remaining teams in the world .....................then BCCI has play with its own players domestically......... BCCI should have helped WICB to overcome this current crisis...........................instead banning is rude.... Cricket lover from India

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Indian Christian

Oct 21, 2014 02:28pm

BCCI is the best cricket board in the World. It will take care of its players and implement laws strictly. I'm sure BCCI is very efficient and has a very big role in World Cricket unlike WCB and PCB.

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Haider Rehman

Oct 21, 2014 02:29pm

@Bhargav You are joking. PCB is not world class. It is full of politics, they cant even select a proper team..

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Ammy

Oct 21, 2014 02:33pm

They are talking of loss of 65 crore , but what about the WI players' problems I personally don't approve this attitude, specially from most richest board.

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Calcutta Man

Oct 21, 2014 02:40pm

What a joke? (I'm just quoting a great man)

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Bhargav

Oct 21, 2014 02:46pm

@S_L - BCCI has more or less compensated for the loss by instantly inviting Sri Lanka to play, which SL has readily accepted, For BCCI it is more of an Ego then the loss of revenue, I understand the concerns with the Ticket issued being cancelled, Telecast Right loss etc.... But May be BCCI could have helped the WICB to play the series, the loss could be compensated when India visits WI, may be they can renegotiate the revenue there, WI has now become a shadow of themselves who were a mighty force in 70's & 80's.... Just like what our Hockey Team was then and now... restoring the past glory of WI is in the interest of Cricket, that is my only point!

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ghuman

Oct 21, 2014 02:51pm

West Indies should have known the implications

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MuhammadAjmal

Oct 21, 2014 02:54pm

Just imagine how PCB felt when BCCI cancelled tour without even paying a penny. Now it happened to them and they are demanding .......millions of dollars?

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sameer

Oct 21, 2014 03:06pm

At least for this replacement series, BCCI should have thought about inviting Pakistan Cricket Board. so sad.

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Izel

Oct 21, 2014 03:09pm

I am feeling sorry for India. Everyday when i open the newspaper, there is at least one news regarding Indian conflict with other nations: China, Pakistan and now WI. Grow up India and bring some tolerance in your attitude :-)

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Akbaruddin

Oct 21, 2014 03:09pm

@MuhammadAjmal That is the difference. BCCI is richest and most influential board of the world. You can't do that to India.

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Sunil

Oct 21, 2014 03:11pm

India has created more problems with West Indies, instead of looking into the matter.

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jay`1980

Oct 21, 2014 03:12pm

@MuhammadAjmal there is world of a diffrence btween PCB and BCCI since u didnt notice !

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Ravi Dallas TX

Oct 21, 2014 03:14pm

Wow, why is this front page news in Dawn? There is no Pakistan. Involved.

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A Pakistani

Oct 21, 2014 03:14pm

Awwww, how can they cancel a tour of India, one of the big three!.

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Sachin Dhawan

Oct 21, 2014 03:15pm

@Sajjad Razza - Although its bad if it’s there “Arrogance”, but it comes if you have some excellence

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abhi

Oct 21, 2014 03:17pm

@MuhammadAjmal dont worry. we will get also.

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abhi

Oct 21, 2014 03:20pm

@Ammy we are rich that does not mean, that money is for charity. as a international team they should follow the rules. BCCI has also done pre-booking of tickets, they have received money from advertisers, TV channels. who will reimburse that??

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abhi

Oct 21, 2014 03:20pm

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Dilip Thorat

Oct 21, 2014 03:20pm

Commitments are to be fulfilled. BCCI could have made huge losses if SL would not had accepted the invitation. WIB deserves punishment. However not very harsh punishment. But this is the least BCCI can do.

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Dilip Thorat

Oct 21, 2014 03:20pm

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Tota Ram Verma

Oct 21, 2014 03:20pm

@Ammy , Why do BCCI bother about WI players problem ? let their problem be handled by their board. BCCI is professional body and they should pursue the legal options if someone has violated the contract between the two boards. emotion and sympathy has no place in professionalism . it is all about adhering the contracts what you have already agreed upon. if you violate just pay the price.

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Oct 21, 2014 03:26pm

@Izel Grow up man and try to understand. BCCI is pressurizing WI board so that they settle the issue asap and pays adequately to WI players. WI board must pay players instead of pocketing all profits. BCCI though no saint, at least this action will help WI players to get adequately! PCB cannot think these. For that, you need to b e powerful and influential.

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Devil

Oct 21, 2014 03:29pm

@Izel Everyday when I open paper I find some adsurd comment, where two very unrelated topics are merged and judged ! Growup and read news properly and comment in a context !

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Varntvar

Oct 21, 2014 03:31pm

@Izel dawn is great at picking negative news from India, or taking a positive news and giving it a negative twist. I see no coverage of two hugely successful state elections on dawn. Or no coverage of Muslim leaders of Maharashtra supporting Modi. Nor do I see any coverage of indian presidents successful visits to Vietnam, Norway and Finnland - 20% of oil reserves are in arctic. Or positive relations building between India and Japan.

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M A Mujeeb

Oct 21, 2014 03:35pm

@sameer Agree! BCCI would have earned more than what they will achieve by inviting Sri Lanka. I mean to say that India-Pakistan rivalry attracts spectators in India and Pakistan and therefore more crowd and more earning.

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Sana

Oct 21, 2014 03:40pm

Right move by BCCI as huge money gets stuck when a team doesn't stick to its contract with another team and nation.In our country blame comes on the head of the BBCI chief and no one will question West Indies.

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Listener

Oct 21, 2014 03:42pm

@Izel - WI players cancelled the tour as their fees were cut down by 75% according to new agreement with their board. BCCI finalized tour schedule in consultation with WI board, not with players with crores of rupees as sponsor. This conflict is an internal matter of WI players and their board, no way BCCI is/should get into that. If you are rich it doesn't mean you will tolerate indiscipline and took this action to let other board know the consequence of cancelling a tour...BCCI is smart in keeping its plan B (sri lanka team) ready as soon as it sense something wrong is brewing ...

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JackDomm

Oct 21, 2014 03:47pm

RIP Cricket. Thanks Big-III.

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AdiB

Oct 21, 2014 03:50pm

@Izel Firstly, West Indies is neither a state nor a nation. Secondly, there are 190 odd other countries with whom India has a wonderful relationship. How many friends does Pakistan have?

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Hypocrisies

Oct 21, 2014 03:55pm

@Izel like you guys in conflict with America, Afghanistan, India and now Iran

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Harmony

Oct 21, 2014 03:57pm

Power of Money...BCCI financial muscle doing the talk. When they became biggest of the 'big 3', the assurance was the world cricket will be better-off under BCCI's care. But many sane voices were right that this hegemony is bad for cricket. Nouveau riche always behave in a gaudy manner!

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anshul

Oct 21, 2014 04:03pm

@MuhammadAjmal Ask PCB to file a case.

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Haris

Oct 21, 2014 04:05pm

@Akbaruddin grow up

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Mr Universe

Oct 21, 2014 04:08pm

@Izel Right Izel. Finally India has learnt something from its neighbor.

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Marina

Oct 21, 2014 04:09pm

This is just the beginning. BCCI being the richest board will do this to every board that messes with them. Serves WICB right for supporting the big 3 unconditionally.

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Sudhakar

Oct 21, 2014 04:11pm

@JackDomm : I would say RIP cricket. Thanks non-Big III (for such irresponsible behavior of abruptly cancelling the tour)

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MuhammadAjmal

Oct 21, 2014 04:17pm

@Akbaruddin No Mr. the problem is mind set. BCCI thought they r the most superior and all others r their slaves.....but in reality this is not the case. Everyone is born free.

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Gaurav Arya

Oct 21, 2014 04:17pm

@Sajjad Razza - Why arrogance? WI violated a contract. It was contractually obliged to complete the series but walked away midway. Legal action has to be taken. Nothing is free in this world, my friend. There are TV rights, advertisements, player contracts etc. In India its a question of hundreds of millions of dollars.

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Mr Universe

Oct 21, 2014 04:18pm

@Sajjad Razza Who is arrogant ???? The WI players who let down their own cricket board or the WI cricket board who despite of earning a huge sum from this series not agreed to pay their own players? BCCI did the right thing for the sake of world cricket. This should not be repeated any where in future. Today the victim is Indian board but it may be PCB tomorrow, who knows.....

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Sardar Adam

Oct 21, 2014 04:25pm

Glad to see Cricket drowning. It's a stupid game.

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Sreenath

Oct 21, 2014 04:25pm

@Sajjad Razza Can you plz define the Arrogance brother?

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Laddoo

Oct 21, 2014 04:36pm

BCCI is like India. A bit of new found cash in the pocket and they think they own the world lol. First they "threatened" South Africa for daring to elect Lorgat. They also threatened Australia and England that they will "go alone" if they don't get more cash hence the creation of new "big 3" system. They already have issues with PCB based on India/Pakistan politics and now they are threatening West Indies. Has BCCI done anything other than threatening other boards?

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Gypsy

Oct 21, 2014 04:39pm

@Ravi DallaTX, Just like the way you a here always commenting on Dawn, even though the news have nothing to do with India

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kashif

Oct 21, 2014 04:43pm

This arrogant BCCI should be boycotted from the cricket indefinitely .

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M. Emad

Oct 21, 2014 04:49pm

A step towards isolation . . .

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Sunil USA

Oct 21, 2014 04:49pm

For WCB money problem is not new. Few years back Lalit Modi had offered to bale WCB out but he had his own conditions, which WCB disagreed. Now BBCI is going to do the same. It will bring WCB to a table and will negotiate . This way BCCI has the vote of WCB

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Rahul

Oct 21, 2014 04:51pm

Their behavior was insult to the game. They should not have visited at all if their players had issues.

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Vectra

Oct 21, 2014 05:08pm

all pakistanis commenting are full of arrogance and blaming India where India is not at all involved,instead of giving genuine comments they are resorting to their hate towards India without reading the situation and then deciding and writing the comment.The fact that India is the richest board doesn't mean it will bail out every country in trouble,those countries should take care of themselves and India has done its part also and it gave all ICC members more money than they were getting before ICC revamp.So WICB is getting more money now just like PCB and other board are getting so the point why WICB refusing the just salary to their players is something beyond me.clearly WICB and blaming India for this by pakistanis is just ridiculous.

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Harmony

Oct 21, 2014 05:21pm

@Vectra - Look who is talking about being "ridiculous"? Suspending all future tours is nothing but dictatorial punishment by the mighty against the very weak. Legal action by BCCI is the only justification.

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A Ali

Oct 21, 2014 05:24pm

@Bhargav .... this was bound to happen the moment india was made one of big three. no wonder.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Oct 21, 2014 05:45pm

What else can they do?

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AshwinMS

Oct 21, 2014 06:02pm

@MuhammadAjmal That was because of security issues,which is your mess.WI cancelled the tour because of their own problems.Us-the hosts are not responsible.

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Sunil USA

Oct 21, 2014 06:28pm

@Laddoo BCCI have threatened and come good. PCB threatened small county like Bangladesh to come to Pakisthan last year What happen Bangladesh refused and told the whole world being threatened.

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NORI

Oct 21, 2014 07:41pm

Before you comment, get the facts and understand them. The decision of WI Cricket board to pull out from Indian tour resulted in a loss of USD 70 million for BCCI. I am sure that any Cricket board would have reacted in the same way.

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Ahmer

Oct 21, 2014 08:17pm

PCB should contact WICB, offer support and sympathy as well as a standing invitation to tour Pakistan any time it suits it.

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Jawwad

Oct 21, 2014 08:52pm

I thought India was supposed to lead world cricket and take teams out of their predicaments due to BCCI holding financial clout over everyone? Is this how a leader behaves at first instance of crisis?

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John

Oct 21, 2014 09:16pm

The problem is that most Cricket Boards are corrupt including BCCI. The only problem is some of the corrupt are also broke. WBC miscalculated their internal problem and lead BCCI to a loss of several crores of Rupees. These issues could have been easily avoided by WBC but in their incompetence they proceeded with the tour.

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eli

Oct 21, 2014 09:38pm

A good lesson for WI. They were one of the first few boards who came out jubilantly supporting the 'big three structure', saying they will financially benefit a lot. The new structure gives individual boards rights to schedule and cancel bilateral series....so based on this, Indians are right in cancelling all future bilateral series with WI. Nations and individual who compromise on principles for their selfish gains, in the end get nothing.

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kranti

Oct 21, 2014 10:00pm

It is a good step taken by BCCI. The WICB has not taken proper steps to stop the deteriorating situation. It should be a lesson to other Boards to maintain a good cricket Board otherwise other Boards also can take their cricket players problems less seriously.

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Ravi Dallas TX

Oct 22, 2014 12:10am

@Gypsy : I agree but this news was the1st headline on the front page for most of the day. Firstly it is sports related, can't be top news, and then no Pakistan involved. Unless you are inviting India bashing comments, I donot see any other radon for it to be top headline. I could be wrong.

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Sav khan

Oct 22, 2014 01:04am

@Ravi Dallas TX Why are you reading dawn and this article in particular.i assume you are an Indian American.you are always poking your nose everywhere

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Sav khan

Oct 22, 2014 01:07am

@Laddoo Yes they have.they have introduced and multiplied illegal betting

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Shubs

Oct 22, 2014 01:14am

The monetary loss made by BCCI is chump change for this cash rich body. Indian cricket fans love the WI, even though they are nowhere near the cricketing powerhouse they once were. I don't know of any cricket lover in India who will want the WI to disappear from the cricketing world. This is not a good move by the BCCI, and I feel sorry for WI cricket. But then when has the BCCI reflected the wishes of ordinary cricket fans in India?

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Sarah

Oct 22, 2014 01:51am

With Pakistan gone,Zimbabwe,Bangladesh almost in back to square stages,West Indies banned from Bilateral series with India,so only teams remain for India is other 2 of Big 3 along with South Africa,Sri Lanka,New Zealand.BCCI has ensured that cricket hits the disaster along with other 2 team of Big 3 who were always racially prejudiced.Incredible especially this done despite India-Pakistan collapse in hockey has been due to similar reasons.Cricket is facing natural death due to same reason.WICB doesn't have money to pay to players.So end of story.Big 3 has ensured that WICB has been in dire strait with finances.Seems few months back it was same for Sri Lanka.God knows what happening to cricket.

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Sarah

Oct 22, 2014 01:56am

@abhi India is not rich but BCCI is corrupt sporting board whose officials are involved in gambling and match fixing.

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Imran A.

Oct 22, 2014 03:42am

The right approach would have been ICC to take action.

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Neeraj

Oct 22, 2014 04:17am

@Laddoo if there is a problem then why play with India.

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ali

Oct 22, 2014 05:05am

The West Indian Cricket Board nor the Indian Cricket Board is reading these comments. so don`t get excited.Let each board do what it has to do.

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Aslam Khan

Oct 22, 2014 05:16am

Good! If India doesn't have cricketing ties with them, maybe they will visit Pakistan now.

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Azam Khan

Oct 22, 2014 07:01am

Good, very soon India will not be playing with any other country.

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Mayank

Oct 22, 2014 07:15am

@Sajjad Razza It's called Business. You cost us billions of rupees, we'll make you suffer for that. Plain and simple.

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Mayank

Oct 22, 2014 07:17am

@Izel Don't worry India is not going to invade WI. You can sleep peacefully now.

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Sam Sooppersaud

Oct 22, 2014 09:00am

The BCCI has acted correctly. But all's not lost to the WI. Maybe the smartasses who sit on the WICB could convince the British to start another round of indentureship. Trick Dhoni, Kholi, Raina, and the entire Indian squad to go on board a ship. Make some false promises to them and then sail the ship to the WI. Once there, force them to play cricket. In their stupidity maybe this is exactly what the WICB is seriously thinking.

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Sam Sooppersaud

Oct 22, 2014 09:03am

@Bhargav Mr. Bhargav, the WI by doing what they have done have already weaken the cricketing fabric. Let them go, they have created a bad taste for world cricket.

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Satheesh Sen

Oct 22, 2014 09:27am

@Izel says a Pakistani from a country loved and respected all around the world!

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Nadeem Ahmed

Oct 22, 2014 10:24am

@Ravi Dallas TX May be you did not notice that this is in the Sports section of the newspaper!

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pmrao

Oct 22, 2014 10:31am

@Bhargav they could have paid the dues to their players now and taking proper action against them later rathar putting india to losses for no fault of india whatsoever

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pmrao

Oct 22, 2014 10:34am

@wondi why it stopped playing with Pakistan everybody knows and the WI are responsible for this cancellation regarding the other hopes of Pakistan it is worse than day dreaming and shows their hate towards india

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Izel

Oct 22, 2014 11:10am

@Azam Well said

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A Ali

Oct 22, 2014 11:14am

i would look at BCCI decision as name of centuries-awaited mind set they have displayed when they are one of big three...ie: they got the power to wield their tradition in degrading / humiliating others. no wonder, in last thousands years or documented history known to us, India / Bharat or Hindustan has never been a dominant power for the obvious reasons like this. whenever they get some ( though belittle ) power they start displaying it with venom and utter despise for others. I do not see any shadow of sense in boycotting your future plans with WICB. I guess, Eng and Aus should sideline India and stop touring Ind ... lets see what India has to say ?. this IPL muscle must be given under ICC cover in all aspects, else cash rich and greedy nature of this saga will engulf a gentleman's game under the wrath of riches with polluted mind in India...

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roger_davis

Oct 22, 2014 11:43am

Maybe the West Indian players would have learned by now that india is only about money and nothing else, including the IPL. Lesson learnt hopefully.

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Zuber

Oct 22, 2014 11:54am

Most of the comments made by pakistani people are totally driven by the inferiorty complex that they possess when coming to India's command in world cricket. Suspending tours is the least india could have done when some board violates the contract. I am sure pakistani people understand this as well but again they are out and out jealous and thus writing baseless comments stating arrogance on BCCI's part. Jal na Rees kar.! Get an international team to tour pakistan and earn some money.. Boards who are used to earning money from tours will definely take actions against those who violate the contracts. This will deter them from repeating this in future.. I am sure WI board would learn from this and start behaving well with their own players and thus keeping Sport and Buisness balanced. An average Pakistani wont understand this however.

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Kallu

Oct 22, 2014 02:09pm

@Azam Khan like Pakistan presently is...lol

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Calcutta Man

Oct 22, 2014 03:04pm

@Zuber I'd like to edit your last sentence...it should be, "An average Pakistani REFUSES to understand this however."

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R Banana

Oct 23, 2014 05:47am

take it easy