India said no to second-string team

India did not accept a second-string West Indies combination to complete the engagements, according to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). This was revealed by the WICB in a statement on Saturday.

The Board of Directors of the WICB held an emergency meeting in St. John’s, Antigua to discuss the developments with regard to the West Indies tour of India. “The WICB wishes to clarify that its proposed alternative arrangement of a replacement West Indies team was not considered acceptable,” said the statement.

Blaming the players for the unpleasant developments in India that led to the cancellation of the tour, the WICB said, “the players in the West Indies squad currently in India, represented by Mr. Dwayne Bravo, indicated to the WICB through the West Indies team management that the players have taken a decision to withdraw their services for the remainder of the tour of India. As a result of this action by the players the WICB was left with no option but to advise the BCCI that it will no longer be able to provide a West Indies team for the remaining five matches (fifth ODI, T20 International, three Test matches).”