The West Indies players may have changed their minds of not boycotting the series by taking the field in the first ODI against India in Kochi on Wednesday. However, the issue regarding the unjust payment agreement signed by the West Indies Players Association and West Indies Cricket Board is far from over.
The controversy may go on and the threats from the West Indian players for strike may continue but sources said that the issues has been resolved, at least for the time being.
However, the Board of Control of Cricket in India has conveyed their message that the series should go on, whatever be their issues.
A top BCCI official talking to dna said the issue is an internal matter of the Caribbeans and does not concern it. "It is between the players and their board. The players are unhappy with the contract negotiated with their board and they stand to lose. However, it is not our concern as it is their internal matter. There was never a threat to the series anyway as they have to honour the tour," said the official.
On Tuesday, the West Indian players failed to show up for practice on the eve of the game and also skipped the customary press conference following the issue.
The WICB and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) signed a new agreement last month covering pay and conditions but one-day captain Dwayne Bravo said players were kept in the dark about the talks and would not accept the outcome.
West Indian captain Dwayne Bravo, who had shot an angry letter to WIPA president Wavell Hinds, was scathing in his criticism of the payment agreement, according to Caribbean website Wired868.com.
"We believe we are being hoodwinked and are being treated like little school boys, yet we are being asked to perform and play as professionals," Bravo wrote.
In a second letter on Wednesday, also addressed to Hinds and published on the same website, the players demanded their union head resign. "After much consideration, the West Indies players have decided to participate in the first One Day International against India starting (today). This decision should not in any way be construed as an acceptance by the players of the unreasonable terms and conditions put forward to us by WICB nor is it an acceptance of the purported new Memorandum of Understanding.
"The Players will not accept any agreement it has had no input in, did not give its consent to and which would infringe on its rights," the letter continued.
WIPA was not immediately available for comment.
—With inputs from Reuters
The players urged the WICB to not to deal with Hinds or the WIPA until a solution is found and demanded that Hinds, who they have accused of a conflict of interest, stand down.
"We the players have now lost all confidence in your ability to properly represent the players in any meaningful way and as such, we are calling on the Officers of WIPA and any of those who may have a conflict of interest to tender their resignation unconditionally with immediate effect," the letter concluded.
Bravo had said the tour should be conducted under previous contractual terms until a solution was found. WIPA was not immediately available for comment.
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