India to take on Sri Lanka after West Indies pull-out

Mumbai, Oct 17 (IANS) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Friday announced a five-match One-day International (ODI) series with Sri Lanka at home, beginning Nov 1, to fill-up the calendar left vacant in the wake of the West Indies Cricket Board's (WICB) sudden decision to wind up its ongoing tour of the subcontinent after the completion of the fourth ODI at Dharamsala.

The BCCI said in a statement that it commenced discussions with Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) for a limited-overs series after the West Indies pulled out of their tour of India reportedly because of an ongoing payment structure dispute with the WICB and West Indies Players' Association (WIPA).

Sri Lanka are currently fourth in the ODI world rankings, just behind India (third) by two points.

"The BCCI wishes to thank SLC for its swift response and for extending its support to ensure that the international cricket season is not curtailed," a BCCI statement said adding that the details of the venues and fixtures will be announced soon.

Earlier, the BCCI, in a written statement, expressed shock and disappointment at the decision taken by the WICB and said that its inability to resolve internal issues with its players and allowing the same to affect an ongoing bilateral series did not reflect well on any of the stakeholders involved.

"The withdrawal gives little thought to the future of the game, the players and the long standing relations between the BCCI and the WICB," the BCCI statement added.

"The BCCI wishes to inform all its stakeholders, especially ardent fans of the Indian cricket team, that this is a unilateral decision taken by the WICB and its players in spite of several appeals to the WICB to honour its commitment and complete the series."

The West Indies series was scheduled to have a fifth ODI, a Twenty20 international as well as three Tests.

WICB informed the BCCI of its decision of forfeiting the tour Friday and told the Indian board that its players will return home immediately.

The BCCI said that they will pursue all options available to protect its rights, whilst seeking appropriate action from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ensure that its interests and those of the game at large will not suffer any damage due to such acts of indiscretion.

According to reports, BCCI is mulling legal action against WICB over losses suffered due to the sudden pull out.