India and Australia might be sworn enemies on the cricket field but the two nations have been united in mourning the shocking death of Phillip Hughes.
Stating that he was forced to retire from international cricket in order to get a NOC to play in the Masters Champions League, veteran West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul has warned that such shabby treatment by selectors is a worrying sign for future cricketers.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India made it clear on Thursday that there is absolutely "no threat" to the ongoing home series against West Indies despite an acrimonious pay dispute between the visiting cricketers and its parent body which is yet to be resolved.
While the Carribs have been panned even by coach Phil Simmons for 'poor body language', former West Indies captain Richie Richardson reckons that the Windies Cricket Board needs to be united in order to improve the scenario.
In an extraordinary turn of events, the West Indies cricket team today pulled out of the remaining part of its India tour in the wake of an acrimonious ongoing pay dispute with their Board, prompting a livid BCCI to rope in Sri Lanka for a five-match ODI series.
Chris Gayle intends to keep playing international cricket with his eyes on the 2016 World Twenty20 but admitted his back injury will sideline him from next month's Test series against England.
The International Cricket Council on Wednesday withdrew its contentious proposal of having a two-tier system in Test cricket following vehement opposition from the all-powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India along with support from Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
Working on the rigorous requirements of five-day cricket will the biggest challenge for his team over the next six weeks, feels Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons
The West Indies Cricket Board has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India to work for a "mutually agreeable solution" over its demand for 26.2 million pounds as compensation for the former's decision to abandon its tour to India.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) stares at financial ruin after its powerful Indian counterpart demanded nearly $42 million in damages for the Caribbean team's abrupt withdrawal from a tour of India last month.
A 25-member West Indies contingent, including support staff, checked in at Kolkata on Monday to play a three-day practice match and the opening Test of the two-match series that will be the swansong for batting great Sachin Tendulkar.
West Indies are two-time World T20 champions but the flamboyant Chris Gayle feels "it will be difficult" for the Caribbean islands to regain their glory days in Test cricket in the near future. One of the most dashing batsmen of his time, Gayle has two triple hundreds in the longest format with 7214 runs in 103 games. His RCB jersey no, 333, is his highest Test score. West Indies have lost their last two Test series against India (at home) and Pakistan (away).
Dave Cameron, the president of the West Indies Cricket Board, has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India to sort the issue of his country's pull-out from their India tour midway into the series last year through a bilateral discussion or third-party mediation over the next two months.
Uncertanity over the availability of Wriddhiman Saha, who had a split webbing in his right hand, for the first One-Day International against Sri Lanka seems to be over as the wicketkeeper batsman looked fit ahead of the opening game, in Cuttack on Sunday.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), reeling from the fallout from the team's withdrawal from the tour of India, is facing fresh pressure from its worried commercial and broadcast partners.
Just hours after the powerful Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) announced they would take legal action against the WICB and were suspending all planned tours of the Caribbean -- moves that could have a devastating financial impact on the West Indies -- officials gathered at a beachside hotel to deal with the fall-out.
Legendary West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding has chosen to empathise with the West Indies players for deciding to return home abruptly over a pay dispute while slamming the Caribbean cricket board for the sport's constant downfall in the region.
India may scrap their tour of West Indies in 2016 after the Caribbean team's abrupt pullout on Friday, said an angry Indian cricket board (BCCI) which is also considering legal actions and seeking intervention of the game's world governing body.
Captain Dwayne Bravo had an embargo regarding questions on his team's dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board, but the all-rounder spoke up, saying the team stuck together in difficult times and maintained a "must-win attitude".
An irate Marlon Samuels trained his guns at Shane Warne as he dedicated his match-winning knock to the Australian spin legend, whose comments spurred him to do well.
Opener Kraigg Brathwaite continued his good run with another splendid century while Narasingh Deonaraine cracked a flamboyant 93 as the second unofficial Test between India 'A' and West Indies 'A' ended in a tame draw in Shimoga
West Indies Cricket Board president Dave Cameron might have sounded defiant after the board meeting last week but it is being reported now that the members have forged an agreement to end the players' pay dispute that led to the West Indies team's abrupt pull-out from the India tour.
Organisers are confident West Indies will take part at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand early next year despite the crisis caused by their withdrawal from the tour of India earlier this month.
The West Indies Cricket Board has criticised skipper Dwayne Bravo and said it was left with no option but to call off the tour of India following a strike by its players in the wake of an acrimonious ongoing pay dispute with WICB.
The International Cricket Council said that certain comments and actions by some of the West Indies players after clinching the World T20 were "inappropriate, disrespectful and brought the event into disrepute". After clinching the World T20 on April 4 following a thrilling last-over win over England in the finals, West Indies skipper Darren Sammy had launched a scathing attack on West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in an emotional speech at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The ICC, which held its second meeting this year at the ICC Headquarters in Dubai on Sunday, said: "The Board considered the behaviour of some of the West Indies players in the immediate aftermath of the final, and unanimously agreed that certain comments and actions were inappropriate, disrespectful and brought the event into disrepute. "The Board acknowledged an apology by the WICB but was disappointed to note that such behaviour had detracted from the success of what was otherwise a magnificent tournament and final," it added.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli has said that his batsmen will have to take more responsibility on a "result-oriented" green wicket laid out for the second Test against the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica.
Hard-hitting left-hander Chris Gayle will return to the West Indies squad for their tour of South Africa after recovering from a back injury.
The West Indies middle order batsman yet again insisted that he was not a part of the decision to abandon the tour of India, and said he was in favour of solving the problem after finishing the series.
Jesse Ryder's blistering return to form may not be enough to get him rushed back into the international game, according to New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum.
"We have to move on from here not just enjoy look at it stepping stone. We don't want to stuck here. We definitely need some infrastructure like in Australia and England."
West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo credits the Indian Premier League for shaping the careers of India's players. He insists that the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament is the route to international success.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha stitched an unbeaten 108-run partnership for the sixth wicket to rescue India from a precarious start as the visitors' posted 234 for five when stumps were drawn on day 1 of the third Test at St Lucia. Ashwin will resume the second day on 75 and will be eyeing his second century of the series. His partner Saha will begin his innings on 46. Statistical highlights on Day one of the third cricket test between India and the West Indies, here on Tuesday.
Former West Indies captain Courtney Walsh hailed the BCCI decision of appointing Anil Kumble as the chief coach terming the leg-spinner as someone who has "his heart in right place". "I think it is a very good move. He is a very well respected person, and someone who is involved with the ICC as well," Walsh, who has 519 Test and 227 ODI wickets said. Walsh, who is also a national selector, was present in St Kitts to watch the warm-up games and was seen enjoying dinner with the Indian coach.
Phillip Hughes's tragic death cast a shadow over an eventful year that saw Ashes rivals Australia and England brawl on the field and bond off it, joining India to pull off a bloodless coup and take charge of the game.
'He spoke to the fact that his West Indies -- a team that brings joy wherever it goes, the one team that plays with a carefree spirit in these days of carefully calibrated professionalism -- played this tournament enveloped in a world of hurt,' says Prem Panicker, the legendary cricket writer, reviewing the World T20 final.
Aruneel Sadadekar/Rediff.com takes a look at some players Indian fans will miss following their exploits in the Indian Premier League.
Against the backdrop of the West Indies team's withdrawal from its tour of India, Rediff.com takes a look at instances when cricket tours have been called off midway through a series.
A gritty unbeaten half-century by Parvinder Singh helped Uttar Pradesh overcome a jittery start and post 206 for 5 in the first innings, on the second day of the three-day practice match, against the visiting West Indies, in Kalyani, on Friday. The West Indies scored a healthy 466 in their first innings, courtesy a patient 112 by veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul and an impressive 94 by Narsingh Deonarine.
'He has shown how consistent he is.'
West Indies captain Darren Sammy believes that starting as underdogs against favourites India in the Thursday's ICC World T20 semi-final, in Mumbai, could prove to be beneficial for his team, as the hosts will be under a lot of pressure to win at all costs in front of home fans.