Windies allow breathing space after BCCI agrees to 4 Tests

St John's, Antigua, Mar 8 (UNI) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has agreed to the proposal of playing four Tests in the West Indies when the team arrives here in May after the host board rescheduled the one day itierary, eliminating back-to-back matches.

''The WICB is pleased that the BCCI has agreed to maintain the four Test schedule and we in turn have agreed to adjust the One Day International (ODI) schedule to eliminate back-to-back matches,'' Chief Executive Officer of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Roger Brathwaite said in a release here.

Though BCCI was in favour of a three-Test series here, WICB managed to convince them to play another extra match after a discussion between the boards in Dubai during the recent ICC Chief Executives' Committee meeting.

WICB also finalised the itinerary for the home series against Zimbabwe, following the Afrcan nation's withdrawal from Test cricket for one year.

''In adjusting the itinerary for the Zimbabwe tour we have attempted to ensure that international cricket is played in Guyana, as they would have been without cricket with the cancellation of the Test scheduled for Guyana,'' Mr Brathwaite said.

Zimbabwe will arrive here on April 26 to play seven ODIs.

Team India, on the other hand, will arrive on May 12 for a seven-week tour featuring four Tests and five ODIs.

After a tour match in Jamaica, India plays two one dayers there on May 18 and 20 and the nect one dayers are schedule on May 23 (St Kitts) and May 26 and 28 (Trinidad).

The first Test match gets underway at Antigua on June 2, followed by St Lucia (June 10-14), St Kitts (June 22-26) and Jamaica (June 30-July 4).

Itinerary of the series against Zimbabwe: Arrival - April 26 - Antigua 1st ODI - April 29 - Antigua 2nd ODI - April 30 - Antigua Tour Match - May 3 - Antigua (vs UWI Vice Chancellor's X1) 3rd ODI - May 6 - Guyana 4th ODI - May 7 - Guyana 5th ODI - May 10 - St Lucia (D/N) 6th ODI - May 13 - Trinidad 7th ODI - May 14 - Trinidad Itinerary of the series against India: Arrival - May 12 - Jamaica Tour match - May 16 - Jamaica 1st ODI - May 18 - Jamaica 2nd ODI - May 20 - Jamaica 3rd ODI - May 23 - St Kitts 4th ODI - May 26 - Trinidad 5th ODI - May 28 - Trinidad 1st Test - June 2-6 - Antigua 2nd Test - June 10-14 - St Lucia 3rd Test - June 22-26 - St Kitts 4th Test - June 30-July 4 - Jamaica UNI XC AY PDS HS1415