NEW DELHI—The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) says there is “no threat” to India’s ongoing home series against West Indies despite a bitter pay dispute between the visiting cricketers and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA). BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel says matches will be played as scheduled after West Indies cricketers threatened strike action hours away from the first of the five One Day International (ODI) against India. “I want to clarify that there is no threat to the India versus West Indies series. The matches will go on as per schedule,” said BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel. “In fact, I have spoken to a few officials from the WICB and have got assurance that there will be no disruption”.
The players have protested the new terms of WIPA’s CBA/MOU deal with the WICB, arguing that the new agreement has reduced their income and that their Test, ODI and T20 fees had been decreased by 75 per cent. WIPA’s President Wavell Hind has dismissed the players’ claims as false and says the new agreement reflects a 15 per cent across the board increase in match fees and retainer contracts that range from 12.5 per cent to 25 per cent, along with the introduction of two new contract categories. Patel has given the assurance that the BCCI will be happy to help the WICB mediate their dispute with WIPA once the series ends. (CMC)