Cricket spreads wings, India-Windies ODI series in US, Canada

St. John's, Antigua, May 12 (UNI) In an effort to popularise the gentlemen's game in lands of baseball and ice hockey, India and the West Indies have agreed to play a one day series, comprising three-five matches, in the United States and Canada later this year.

At the recently concluded ICC Board Meeting in Dubai, the President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Kenneth Gordon and senior Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official IS Bindra signed a ''historic agreement'' , under which the two Full Member countries would co-operate in the future.

''This includes the preparations for the hosting of the ICC Cricket World Cup by the WICB and Asia in 2007 and 2011 respectively,'' according to a WICB statement here.

At the April 29 meeting, it was decided that ''the first major project will be three to five One Day Internationals to be held in the United States and Canada targeted for August/September 2006.'' It has also been agreed upon that ''India and the West Indies would work together assisting each other wherever possible to develop cricket in their respective countries or in their spheres of special interest i.e. North America,'' the release said.

''...this relationship will be based on mutual respect and the natural ties which have been developed over many years of competing with each other in the field.'' ''Because of current financial difficulties, India will fund this project on the understanding that it will be repaid out of the WI share of the profits of the series,'' it said.

Both the boards will then take up further joint projects such as the opening of the Multi Complex stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the aggressive expansion of cricket in North America.

''The major breakthrough from this agreement will be the development and expansion of cricket in North America through the hosting of matches and, in particular joint ventures to be pursued such as the opening of the multi complex stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida,'' it added.

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