WICB Denies Lifting Ticket Levy

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is pouring cold water on a U.K. newspaper report claiming the controversial levy on tickets sold in the U.K, Europe and Ireland has been lifted.

Chief executive officer Roger Brathwaite issued a statement on Wednesday to debunk a Daily Telegraph report that an "unexpected concession" by the WICB would make sales to all nationalities available at face value later this month.

The Daily Telegraph said cricket fans in the U.K. could make use of the "WICB Hotline" from February to to snap up tickets for Tests and ODIs in Barbados and Antigua. "The reason is connected more with slow sales, especially for the Tests in Jamaica and Trinidad - and one-day internationals everywhere - than a show of conscience from the West Indies Cricket Board."

However, Brathwaite explained that any callers to "WICB Ticketline" from the U.K,, Europe and the Republic of Ireland would be re-directed to New Century Marketing, the London-based firm handling distribution there. He made it clear the board's announcement "had never indicated in the release that the levy would be lifted."

"Patrons in the U.K., Europe and the Republic of Ireland can only make their purchases through New Century Marketing who are the exclusive agents for sales in the European region,? Brathwaite added.

The WICB has been heavily criticised for the "discriminatory" US$260 ticket levy for British fans travelling to the Caribbean.