WI Bang T 2 Day 1 Lunch: Shakib Leads, WI Hang On Despite Dispute

Mashrafe Mortaza’s absence could be felt. For the West Indies trying to prevent a catastrophic loss of series to Bangladesh at home, the loss of the first playing eleven could be felt even more at Grenada.
Shakib Al Hasan leads the Bangladesh team as captain and even as Bangladesh chose to field, the West Indies had battles both, on the field and off the field. After the delayed start, Omar Phillips played a Twenty20 time out innings before falling to star of the first Test, Shakib and leaving West Indies at sixty for one. Dale Richards played magnificently for sixty-nine before Mahmudullah cut short his innings. The one change that West Indies made was bring in Ryan Hinds and drop Nikita Miller. Mahmudullah though cut Hinds’ return prematurely. The one change that Bangladesh effected was necessitated by Mortaza’s injury which meant that Enamul Haque Jr. came into the scenario. It has meant that West Indies are in a precarious position at 107 for three at lunch on the first day when rain called the innings break.
Floyd Reifer continues to lead the depleted West Indies squad, second string really, as the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) are locked in battle with the WIPA (West Indies Players Association). The WICB has now stated that the players have breached their contracts and violated the code of conduct by not turning up for the first Test against Bangladesh and also, for the ticket launch of the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean and therefore, not entitled to their retainer fees until they come back to active duty.
The WIPA responded back stating that the West Indies cricketers have been playing without a contract and therefore, the question of a breach does not arise. The ICC meanwhile is taking cognizance of the situation. Apparently the threat by the WICB that they will choose from the pool of currently available players for the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa should the players not return has got to the ICC. In fear that the West Indies may send a depleted squad, the ICC General Manager, Dave Richardson, told the media that the ICC has offered to become the mediator to solve the present deadlock.