March 2015


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Abandoned

In October 2014, the West Indies team’s tour of India was abruptly cut short when the players refused to continue playing. It was one of five episodes in cricket history where tours were aborted. The first also involved the West Indies and was in 1939 when the final seven matches of the England tour were cancelled because of the outbreak of World War II. The other three tours were in Pakistan. One (1968/69) involved England and a riot, another involved India (1984/85) when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated and the third, involved Sri Lanka (2008/09) when their team bus was fired upon (ESPNCricinfo).

War, assassination, riot and violence were followed by the West Indies team downing their tools because of a contractual dispute with the WICB.