WICB wants BCCI to settle issue out of court

Dave Cameron, president of the West Indies Cricket Board, has urged the BCCI not to drag the WICB into legal matters over its team's pullout from the India tour in October last year with one ODI, two T20s and three Tests still to go.

Cameron rather suggested the idea of settling the matter through bilateral discussions. "We reiterate our position that Indian courts lack jurisdiction in this matter given the parties' agreement to submit disputes of this nature to binding arbitration," Cameron wrote in a mail to BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel, according to a report in ESPNcricinfo.

Cameron's mail came in response to Patel's letter on January 20, that threatened the WICB with legal proceedings in the Indian courts if the Caribbean board failed to propose how it would pay the damages worth USD 41.97 million.

"We are surprised that your letter makes no reference to our letter dated 7 November 2014 or the matters to which it refers, including our formal written proposal for progressing matters. Your letter also makes no reference to the numerous earnest but informal discussions, which have taken place between our respective boards exploring possible solutions, including various 'cricketing solutions' that are practical and fair to the BCCI and all stakeholders," Cameron further wrote in his mail.

Patel, who had sent a letter on October 31 last year that had specified the components of the damages, had described then captain Dwayne Bravo and his team's decision to withdraw midway from the tour as a 'monumental disaster'. Cameron, however, said the WICB was ready to wait for the BCCI to come up with a solution.

"Our position in law remains as set out in our letter dated 7 November 2014. Without admitting any liability to the BCCI, we reiterate our willingness to participate in bi-lateral or multi-lateral discussions, or in mediation or such other suitable form of ADR (American Depositary Receipt) as may be appropriate, as the alternatives would be of no benefit to either Board or the larger cricketing community," Cameron said.

"We would like to propose that we (WICB and BCCI) meet at the earliest available opportunity but in any event within the next 60 days, as we remain of the view that the issues between us may best be resolved through dialogue, facilitated or otherwise, with the aim of jointly coming up with appropriate 'cricketing solutions' that will meet the legitimate interests of all stakeholders including the BCCI."