India to renegotiate WI schedule

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is bargaining with the West Indies Cricket Board of Control (WICBC) over the proposed itinerary of five Tests and seven ODIs when the Indian team tours the Caribbean islands this March till the end of May.

The BCCI has made it clear to the WICBC that they will not be able to put the Indian team through the grueling schedule.

Board secretary Niranjan Shah said that the board has realised that the players need time to recuperate between tours.

Immediately after the West Indian tour, the Indian team will proceed to England and will be there till the first week of September.

"If you look at the heavy schedule of the Indian team in 2002, you will appreciate this move by the board. The players need preparation time between tours," said Shah.

India last visited the West Indies in 1997 and played five Tests and four ODIs.

"We have suggested to the West Indies board that either we play four Tests and seven ODIs or five Tests and five ODIs. The outcome of the negotiations will be known in another 8-10 days."

"When the English team came here, the Indian team was still playing in South Africa. We don't want a repeat of that scenario."

Shah said that every country wants to play more matches with India because of the higher revenue earned through television rights.

"We have also turned down New Zealand's request for seven ODIs later this year."

Shah was confident that the BCCI and West Indies cricket board would work out a mutually acceptable solution.

India to West Indies
March 22-26	1st Test	Guyana
March 30 - April 3	2st Test	Trinidad
April 12-16	3rd Test	Barbados
April 19-23	4th Test	Antigua
May 2-7	5th Test	Jamaica
May 11	1st ODI	Jamaica
May 12	2nd ODI	Jamaica
May 15	3rd ODI	Barbados
May 18	4th ODI	Trinidad
May 19	5th ODI	Trinidad
May 22	6th ODI	Grenada
May 26	7th ODI	St Vincent