West Indies Board rejects profiteering accusations

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has defended ticket-price increases for England supporters travelling to the Caribbean next March, and rejected accusations of profiteering.

The WICB has been roundly condemned by supporters' groups - and Tim Lamb, the chief executive of the England & Wales Cricket Board - after it was revealed that it was imposing a US$260 (£160) levy on ticket sales to tourists, on top of substantial increases in the prices of tickets themselves. Seats for the most popular matches in Antigua and Barbados will cost around $560 (£350), and will only be available if they are bought for all five days.

However, Roger Brathwaite, the WICB's chief executive officer, responded by saying that New Century Marketing, the UK-based travel and marketing company who are the official ticket distributors, had done nothing wrong: "This is a standard commercial practice for major events of this nature and it should be noted that these tickets will have the same face value as tickets purchased in the Caribbean."

He added: "The appointment of NCM is part of the WICB's continuing effort to monitor the sale of tickets more effectively so as to ensure more equitable and efficient distribution among the UK and Caribbean fans as well as other overseas visitors, particularly in Barbados and Antigua."

Brathwaite also pointed out that ticket sales had already been encouraging. He said that 75% of the allocation for the Barbados Test, and 65% for Antigua, have already been sold to England supporters.

"These early sales figures suggest that this tour will be as well supported as in past years," Brathwaite said. "We value the support of all cricket fans and we are hard at work with the territorial boards and our tourism partners in the region to welcome large numbers to the series next year."