MUMBAI, India, CMC – Indian authorities are considering an Indian Premier League ban on West Indies players after the Caribbean one-day side walked out on the tour of India Friday, the Press Trust of India has reported.Quoting a senior BCCI official, the PTI said the matter of sanctions could be discussed when the IPL governing council convened.
“The matter is likely to be raised at IPL governing council meeting where the issue will come up for serious discussions. Some of the members of the board’s top brass, want to ban the Windies players for at least one season,” the PTI quoted the BCCI official as saying.
“For the likes of Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, IPL has been a primary source of income and the perks that they have got in India for their star status. The love that Indian public bestowed on them is unimaginable and this is pure backstabbing by their players.”
West Indies players quit the tour of India following Friday’s fourth One-Day International after failing to resolve their pay dispute with their union and the West Indies Cricket Board.
By doing so, they scuttled the fifth ODI scheduled for Kolkata, the Twenty20 International two days later in Cuttack and the three-Test series to start October 30th.
The players had threatened to withdraw their services for the opening ODI in Kochi but eventually took the field after being convinced by Indian officials.
“What BCCI officials are finding it difficult to digest is that even after their assurances to Sanjay Patel, who went to Kochi to persuade them, things have come to such a pass,” the official continued.
“How could they backtrack on their promise? This is a matter of principles. If they can give commercial considerations priority then why won’t they be penalised for their uncompromising attitude.”
A plethora of West Indies players currently campaign in the lucrative Indian Premier League, including several members of the current ODI squad.
Captain Dwayne Bravo, the players’ representative in the impasse, along with Dwayne Smith represents the Chennai Super Kings, while Kieron Pollard is a prominent member of the Mumbai Indians.