WI participation almost certain

Sri Lanka on stand by for tri-series in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

MUMBAI: The tri-series is on. All the confusion over the participation of the West Indies in the proposed three-nation tournament in the later half of September seems to be over. Late on Thursday night, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is believed to have received the nod from the West Indies Cricket Board.

BCCI officials were unwilling to confirm or deny about the West Indies board’s confirmation but they sounded optimistic about the tournament and also over the participation of Brian Lara’s team. “We’re waiting for the papers. I cannot yet confirm it yet,” said Lalit Modi, Board vice-president and the man behind the tournament. “We’re, however, confident  of staging the tournament.”

Besides India and the West Indies, Australia is the other team in the proposed tournament which will have a total of seven matches. It is scheduled to be held some time after the second week of September.

Board secretary Niranjan Shah was even more upbeat. “In principle they have agreed. But we’re awaiting the papers,” Shah said. He, however, disclosed that Sri Lanka was ready to step in, in the event of a WICB pull-out. That, however, is unlikely to happen.

There has been confusion over the participation of West Indies as the WICB had sought time from the Indian Board leading to speculation that the tournament was in jeopardy. There were also reports that in place of West Indies, New Zealand could be the third team. Shah, however, denied the BCCI ever extending an invite to New Zealand Cricket.

As reported by DNA, the tournament will be held in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore with the latter getting to stage the first three matches. The Malyasian capital will host the last four matches, including the final, under lights.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the work at the two staging cities has started. The Australian Cricket Board has been looking after arrangements for the tournament. Shah assailed fears about the conditions at the two centres.

“The pitches at both centres are very good,” he asserted. The only hitch is the installation of temporary lights in Kuala Lumpur but the secretary said he was confident lights will be in place before the start of the  tournament.

The tri-series is a part of the Board’s ‘off-shore’ plans. It wants to hold a minimum of  25 matches in the next five years. Zee Sports hold the media rights of these matches.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the BCCI is yet to work out a revenue-sharing formula with the other two participating Boards. But Modi didn’t seem worried. “Our offer is too big and lucrative for any Board to turn it down,” he said.