ST JOHN’s, Antigua (CMC) – A day after the West Indies team bus was stoned in Bangladesh, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said yesterday that the players and team officials “while slightly shaken by the incident are in very good spirits”. The WICB was seeking to allay the fears of fans, following the stone-pelting incident, which police have described as a case of mistaken identity.
It occurred when the team bus was leaving the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium for the team’s hotel in the Bangladesh capital, after the West Indies completed a nine-wicket victory over the World Cup co-hosts.
“They are fully focused on the World Cup campaign and representing the people of the West Indies,” said the WICB in a media release.
“The team has had a meeting to discuss the incident, and has since travelled, as scheduled, to Mohali in India for their next group match.”
Though the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) expressed concern yesterday about the team’s security arrangements, the WICB said it was satisfied that tournament organisers had done all possible to ensure the team’s safety throughout the competition.
WIPA contended that other teams were provided with their personal security consultant by their respective boards, but the West Indies team was not provided with the same level of support by the WICB.
“Immediately following the incident the WICB chief executive officer Ernest Hilaire was in contact with the team management and received a verbal report on the incident and discussed the actions needed to be undertaken by the team and officials,” the media release stated.
“The WICB is satisfied with the security arrangements for the World Cup and the team management will continue to work closely with the event’s organisers and local officials to ensure that the safety and well being of the players remain paramount at all times.”
The WICB concluded that the team has always been warmly received in Bangladesh and treated with the greatest hospitality, and they expected this to continue despite this incident.