Windies invite India 'A' for domestic tourney

Our Correspondent

The West Indies Cricket Board has invited the India 'A' team to participate in its annual domestic tournament, for the 'Bustar Cup'.

WICB president Patrick Rousseau, who along with his CEO Gregory Shilling Ford stopped by at Calcutta en route to the ICC meeting in Australia this weekend, told a joint press conference with Asian Cricket Foundation chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, in Calcutta on Tuesday: ''The tournament will become more competitive if the India 'A' squad agrees to participate next year.''

He said the prize-money tournament is played every year from the first week of January. After the preliminary stage, four teams lock horns in a round-robin league, with the top two taking part in a play-off for the championship.

Rousseau, who arrived in Calcutta two days back to hold discussions with Dalmiya, disclosed that a cricket academy was been formed in the West Indies last week.

''We also want to exchange ideas with the Indian authorities on successful running of the academy,'' he said.

Outlining the areas of mutual cooperation between the cricket boards of the two countries, Rousseau said the West Indies are eager to learn from India the use of information technology in developing the game.

He announced that West Indies board would also buy cricketing gear including bats, balls, pads and gloves from India for their under-12, under-15, under-17 and under 19 teams.

''We have been buying a lot of equipment from India, but so far there was not much coordination between the two boards,'' he said.

The West Indies officials also discussed with Dalmiya the formation of Cricket Association of America (CAA) for cricket-playing countries in the American continent, on the lines of the Asian Cricket Council.

The proposed body, comprising 14 countries, would work in close coordination with the ACC for the development of the game in the American continent, Rousseau said.

Dalmiya said the ACC will extend all neccessary expertise to association as it has been doing with African Cricket Council. He said the council will include all Latin American, South American and North American nations.

"Twenty years ago the only 15 teams took part in the Football World Cup. I want to have 50 teams vying for a place in the cricket World Cup," declared Mr. Dalmiya.

Commenting on a query whether there will be an inquiry against Brian Lara following match-fixing allegations, Rousseau replied in the negative, saying his board has no plans to do anything of the sort based only on the findings of the Central Bureau of Investigation. He said even if an inquiry is constituted it would only be after the lawyers' meeting which is scheduled to be held in Melbourne.

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