By IANS
Port of Spain : The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) plans to send a full-strength squad to Zimbabwe in December to play five one-day internationals, reports the Trinidad and Tobago Express.
The newspaper quoted WICB president Julian Hunte as saying that the board had hired an “independent security expert” to go to Zimbabwe to assess the situation. The expert’s report would then be passed on to the West Indies Players Association (WIPA).
The expert, an Australian working in South Africa, has undertaken similar assignments for other members of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“We have an obligation to go (to Zimbabwe) and, unless we get adverse reports we will fulfil it,” said Hunte. “What we’re looking at is five ODIs but we’ll drop the two four-day matches they wanted in addition.”
Neither he nor WIPA president Dinanath Ramnarine, both presently in South Africa for the inaugural Twenty20 World Championships, would visit neighbouring Zimbabwe, Hunte added.
West Indies would face a financial penalty if they opt out of an engagement on the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP).
The series in Zimbabwe would immediately precede a tour of neighbouring South Africa for three Tests and five ODIs.