One-year ban on Sir Viv stadium

The International Cricket Council has barred the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua from hosting international matches for at least 12 months until extensive remedial work is carried out and it passes an inspection by the game's apex body.

The stadium hosted the second Test between England and the West Indies this February but the match was abandoned after just 10 balls because of an unfit outfield.

The matter was reported to the ICC, which also warned the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for not preparing the ground properly.

"Appropriate work must now be carried out and monitored by the WICB before the inspection can take place. Such inspection will be conducted no earlier than 12 months from yesterday, the day the ICC informed the WICB of its decision," the ICC said in a statement.

Speaking about the decision, ICC General Manager (Cricket) David Richardson said, "We have come to the decision that the outfield was, in fact, unfit for play and of an unacceptable standard for international cricket."

Richardson observed that the abandoned match in Antigua was an embarrassment to the game.

"The abandoned Test match was an embarrassment to the local authorities in Antigua, to West Indies cricket in general and to the international game as a whole. The image of the game and the integrity of our sport cannot afford to have such farcical scenes play out as they did on the first morning f the match. Steps must be taken to ensure that it never happens again," he said.