WICB denies giving consent for tri-series against India

St John's, Antigua, Aug 1 (UNI) The proposed India-Australia-West Indies ODI tri-series before the Champions Trophy has hit another road block with the Windies cricket board now claiming that it is yet to discuss the tournament with its cricketers and would confirm participation only after meeting the players' representatives.

''No final decision has been made on the participation of the Board in this series. The actual proposal was only received on Saturday July 29 and the Board immediately met on Sunday July 30 by teleconference to review the proposal. We are now taking this proposal to the players even while we finalise the terms of the offer from the BCCI,'' the WICB said in a statement here.

''It is necessary to correct the misleading information in recent media reports which suggest that the WICB has entered into arrangements for a tri-nation series,'' the board added.

The WICB made it clear that the consent for the planned two-week series in Malaysia and Singapore would not be given without discussing the proposal with the players.

''We have been invited by BCCI to make ourselves available for a triangular series in September involving India, Australia and West Indies. We are seeking to discuss this proposed series with the players and a team headed by Mr Deryck Murray will be meeting with the players representative,'' the statement added.

The series which was originally planned in US was shifted to Canada after venues could not be confirmed. The tournament had to be cancelled again after Canada refused to host it and finally the South-East Asian nations were agreed upon by the BCCI and Cricket Australia (CA).

The WICB said it was aware that it had limited time to respond to the proposal and would try its best to sort out the matter with the players and clarify its stand at the earliest.

''We have been advised that an urgent response is required in view of the limited time available for these arrangements,'' the board said.

Meanwhile, CA has given its approval for the series, saying that it would be a good chance for the World Champions to prepare for the Champions Trophy, which they have never won.

''The Australian team last played one-day international cricket in Bangladesh in April so it's important for us that this opportunity is used in advance of the ICC's major tournament in October,'' CA chief executive James Sutherland said.

The two-week tournament would comprise of six league matches and a final, with four games to be played in Malaysia and three in Singapore.

''We're grateful for the support we've had from our friends in the Malaysian Cricket Association and the Singapore Cricket Association on this proposal and I'm sure such a tournament will be a great success and further strengthen our relationships with Asian cricketing countries,'' he said, Further details of the tournament are expected to be finalised by the end of this week.

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