5 days for Test & WI yet to name squad; BCCI not amused

The first Test between India and the West Indies starts at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi on November 6. So, when will the team from the Caribbean arrive in India?

That is, of course, not as relevant a question as to who will be in the West Indies team that will play in the Test? With less than a week left for the start of the Kotla Test and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has not yet announced the squad.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is watching with a bit of amazement, if not amusement, that the WICB has not yet finalised the squad. The BCCI officials wonder if their players can get visas to make it to India in time for the first Test.

 “It’s not our concern and there is no worry as such, but I must say we are waiting to hear about the West Indies team. You must note that there is not much time left for the first Test,” said a senior board official.

Generally, the BCCI issues letters to the concerned high commissions to expedite the process of visas for the foreign teams. “There is a minimum time required for the issuance of visas but we don’t know if they have made the arrangements,” the official said.

The West Indies team, scheduled to play three Tests and five ODIs during their five-week tour, are scheduled to arrive in India on November 3. The team is currently playing in Bangladesh but there is no clarity if all of them have Indian visas.

A WICB spokesman said the squad will be announced soon. “We may announce in the next 24 hours,” the spokesman told DNA from the Caribbean and hastened to add that the board is seized of the matters relating to travel. “We’re aware of the situation and we’ve made the arrangements,” the spokesman said. He also confirmed that the players will fly to India from Bangladesh. “They won’t return to the Caribbean,” he said.

The West Indians are currently involved in a Test (2nd in the series) against the hosts and the match is scheduled to end on Wednesday.

One reason for delay could be the WICB’s standoff with Chris Gayle. The player, out of the team since summer, has been locked in a protracted battle with the board.

The WICB has asked him to apologise if he wants to be considered for selection. The player has rubbished the demand but one is not sure if that is the crux of the delay.