I was forced to revisit the controversial withdrawal of the West Indies players from the India Tour almost a month ago.
I am doing so after John Lovell made my column dated November 7 a document of CBC Q100.7 talk show and Ralph Thorne and Andrew Sealy quoted from it during the Line & Length show on Sunday.
I am sticking to my stance that those players should be punished. The International Cricket Council (ICC) called the West Indies players’ action as “damaging and unacceptable” and indicated that such behaviour in future would jeopardise players’ participation in lucrative tournaments like the Indian Premier League (IPL).
These days money comes first and any other number can play. I am very glad for the stance taken by the ICC.
Somebody has to stand up to the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and let them know that they were wrong. What is WIPA now calling what the ICC said. Is that victimisation?
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has set up a task force, but what purpose will it serve?
To me it will be a waste of time and money. Will the findings be made public? Will action be taken on the findings? Or will it be like other commissions of inquiry?
Who is going to pay the US$42 million to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)?
Yes, the players should be made to pay that sum.
I am sure that the BCCI can do without the US$42 million, but they are sending a message to the WICB and the WIPA.
