West Indies may 'cease to exist' warns T20 inquest report

West Indies cricket may "cease to exist" unless the issue of its players prioritising global Twenty20 leagues ahead of international duties is resolved, according to a report commissioned by Cricket West Indies (CWI).

The report from a three-man panel made up of former captain and batting great Brian Lara, experienced South African coach Mickey Arthur and a senior judge Patrick Thompson, was commissioned after West Indies' shock early exit from last year's T20 World Cup in Australia.

West Indies have struggled with availability issues for players who feature in the Indian Premier League and other T20 competitions around the world.

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"It is essential that some middle ground is arrived at. Otherwise, West Indies cricket may cease to exist as an entity," said the report.

"This group does not indulge in doomsday predictions but no entity, sporting or otherwise, has a viable future if its talent is not harnessed and effectively managed," the report added.

"It is not in the best interests of West Indies cricket that our best players play in every global league and play for the WI Team on an optional basis," the report said.

The report urged a "frank and honest discussion" about the issue in order to find a solution to what it called an "impasse."

One of the issues blocking better agreement about player schedules and availability is the long-standing conflicts between players and CWI, the report said.

"In this group's view, there is significant distrust between the players and administration and this distrust is inimical to ensuring that the best 11 players turn out for the WI Team in every match," the report said.

The report made a series of