West Indian cricket, once the envy of the world game, is facing oblivion after the Board of Control for Cricket in India responded with fury to the cancelled tour that has again exposed the fragile nature of the sport’s finances. The cricketing community was already reeling following last week’s decision by the West Indian players to call off their tour of India with a three-Test series left unplayed because of a pay dispute with their own board. But on Tuesday the BCCI escalated the crisis, saying they would start legal proceedings against the West Indies Cricket Board for a loss of income they claim to be as high as £40million, and suspending all series between the two countries. Sri Lanka stepped in at a moment’s notice for a five-match one-day series, starting on November 2.
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West Indies Cricket Board cancelled the nation's tour of India this month
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Sri Lanka have hastily agreed to play a one-day series in November
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Board of Control for Cricket in India claim £40million in lost earnings
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They have started legal proceedings against bankrupt cricketing board
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Successful claim by India would cripple West Indian cricket for good
But that money has gone and the potential loss of India’s proposed visit in 2016 could bring @placeholder to their knees.