BCCI says happy to mediate in Windies pay dispute after series

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.

"I want to clarify that there is no threat to the India versus West Indies series. The matches will go on as per schedule. In fact, I have spoken to a few officials from the WICB (West Indies Cricket Board) and have got assurance that there will be no disruption," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said.

"I got an e-mail from WICB chairman Dave Cameron, who thanked BCCI for playing a pro-active role," he added.

Patel said the BCCI will be happy to help the WICB as a "mediator" once the series ends.

"Look, our job was to ensure that the series is run smoothly. This series of three Tests, five ODIs and a T20 International was chalked during the FTP calendar of 2007-08.

"Futures Tour Programme (FTP) is sacrosanct and all the member nations must abide by it. You cannot disrespect what was decided in FTP calendar. I told them that there isn't a problem that can't be sorted out across the table. If WICB wants, we can mediate once the series ends. These players are good boys and they know their duty," said Patel.

He categorically denied reports that the BCCI paid the West Indies players or WICB prior to Wednesday’s first ODI, which the tourists won by 124 runs, in Kochi, so that it was not disrupted.

"There is absolutely no truth to these rumours. The BCCI has not made any such payments and nor do we have any plans of indulging into any such financial transactions in principle. This is their internal matter. As a cricket board, we can obviously offer our advice on what can be the correct path to solve the problem but that's about it," the Patel clarified.

The BCCI will only pay the WICB the mandatory "guarantee money" that has to be made to a visiting nation, as per ICC guidelines.

According to the agreement between two Test-playing nations during bilateral series, the visiting team gets a 'Guarantee Money' -- amount of which is negotiable between the two competing countries.

"Obviously, there is a guarantee money and BCCI will pay that to the WICB as per the guidelines. But that is a mandatory payment. But we are certainly not giving any loans or making any advance payment," said Patel.

It is learnt that couple of top WICB officials will be reaching Delhi to carry on the discussions with the aggrieved cricketers before Saturday’s second ODI at the Feroz Shah Kotla.