The BCCI reacted as strongly as could have been imagined after the West Indies decided to pull out of their tour to India after the 4th ODI in Dharamsala on Friday.
Such was the strongly worded statements that the BCCI put out, that it forced WICB to reconsider their decision to let player power rule, before eventually realising that they had little option in the matter.
After threatening to sue the WICB for damages caused due to the pull out -- even if the BCCI managed to rope in Sri Lanka for a five-match ODI series -- the Indian cricket board released a timeline of the events that eventually led to the drastic decision.
Below is the timeline and the entire statement put out by BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel.
7 October: "Mr. Dave Cameron sent a copy of a letter addressed to Mr. Wavell Hinds, which stated that the failure of the West Indies players to take the field will leave the WICB with no alternative but to cancel the match and notify the BCCI accordingly and recall the team."
8 October: "Around 3:00 am India time, Mr. Dave Cameron sent a mail to the BCCI stating he is withdrawing the team from the tour. Mr. Sanjay Patel rushed to Kochi and spoke to the WI players and managed to get on with the match."
12 October: "Mr. Patel met Mr. Cameron in Dubai and asked him for a confirmation that the rest of the tour will go on. Mr. Cameron assured that by close of business on Wednesday 15 October, he will confirm one way or the other."
16 October Morning: "There was no response from Mr. Cameron."
16 October Evening: "Mr. Patel sent a reminder mail to Mr. Cameron, seeking an urgent response."
17 October, 3:00 am: "Mr. Cameron sent a response stating that – 'WICB are not able to provide any assurances or guarantees,' and that WICB will communicate their position by end of the day on 17 October."
17 October, 10:00 am: "Mr. Richard Pybus of the WICB sent a mail to the BCCI stating: 'WICB's position is that if the players refuse to play then the players must return home and the rest of the ODI and Test tour is called off. This has been discussed with the WICB President and CEO and they are fully aware of developments here.'
17 October, 2:00 pm: "Mr. Richie Richardson sent a mail to the BCCI stating the following:
'Despite agreeing to play the 4th ODI in Dharamshala, regrettably, the current West Indies players have decided that they will not participate any further in this tour and wish to return home after this match. In light of this, I suggest that the entire squad travel to Delhi tomorrow and be booked into a hotel there, until international return flights have been booked. On behalf of the entire squad and WICB, I apologise for the inconvenience caused.'
This makes it clear that all along, the WICB was withdrawing its team if a resolution was not reached in the issue with their players."
