Internal problems currently facing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are likely to inflict further woes on the West Indies as the regional board seeks to find a mechanism to deal with the future relationship between the two Boards.
A lawsuit worth US$41.97 million and the possibility that all future bi-lateral ties may be severed by the BCCI, continue to haunt the WICB, and recent developments within the BCCI are unlikely to ease the pressure.
The governing body for Indian cricket is currently engaged in a court battle with its former president N Srinivasan that is preventing it from holding general elections.
Last week, the BCCI sought the opinion of the Supreme Court on whether Srinivasan could attend the meetings of the board as the authorised representative of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA).
Srinivasan has been told to stay away from BCCI meetings before, owing to conflict of interest issues, and had even been made to apologise to the Supreme Court for doing otherwise.
Yet Srinivasan came to the working committee meeting in Kolkata last week, at his own risk, and BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya called it to an end mere minutes after it had begun. Dalmiya said he would seek a court directive with regards to Srinivasan's eligibility to participate in board matters.
Since Srinivasan has technically attended the meeting before it was adjourned "sine die", the Cricket Association of Bihar, the petitioner in the IPL corruption scandal, is likely to move a contempt plea to the court. The legal muddle is likely to result in the postponement of the BCCI's AGM, which needs to be held before September 30, for the second year in succession.
A source close to the WICB revealed that at last weekend's regular quarterly meeting of the WICB, the India matter came up, concerning the severing of bi-lateral ties and the also the lawsuit worth US$41.97M.
"The matter was discussed by the WICB directors but at this point there is little they could do to advance the discussions with the BCCI. They are having internal problems and as such it is difficult for the WICB to get them to sit down to discuss the matter further. When their elections are held, then and only then would the WICB get an opportunity to engage these men in talks, so that cricket relations can resume."
The source added that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has gotten involved in the matter and has written both bodies, asking them to meet at their earliest convenience to work out a deal moving foward.
India is due to tour the Caribbean next year to play four Test matches and if they fail to make the trip, the WICB stands to lose significant revenue from what is expected to be a very lucrative tour.