'Board sympathises with WI players'

HYDERABAD: West Indian players, who will be allowed to play in the IPL, seem to have escaped the BCCI's punitive action as board members felt they were not to be blamed for the fiasco.
"There will be no sanction against the West Indies players and they will be allowed to play in the IPL," BCCI sources said, adding: "It's too early to take an official decision on their IPL participation as it's a very complex issue.The franchisees too have to be taken into confidence and the members feel that the players are not to be blamed for the entire turn of events. The West Indies pullout was because of a tussle between the players and the board over payments.The members do sympathise with the players and will not want to hurt them." BCCI joint secretary Anurag Thakur said a formal announcement on the matter would be made later.
Opening batsman Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore), all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Dwayne Smith (Chennai Super Kings), bighitting batsman Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians) and mystery spinner Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders) are some of the Windies players who are regulars in the IPL.