WICB gets financial ease
Wed, Sep 28, '16
The last minute decision to stage two T20 matches against India in Florida turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the West Indies.
Sources say the matches were financial successes with some US $11.2 million being generated from media rights and gate receipts.
Although cricket in the Americas falls under the auspices of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), it was the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who were given permission by the WICB to host the matches, and despite the fact that one of the two games was affected by rain, the BCCI was still able to make a profit.
A member of the WICB told Guardian Media that the outcome has gone a long way in healing wounds between the two cricketing nations following the 2014 debacle which saw the West Indies aborting a tour of India with several matches still to be played.
The fiasco left the WICB with a debt of US $41.97 million and it took months of discussion and sensitive negotiations before the WICB and the BCCI were able to arrive at a workable option.
