The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) have asked the manager of the West Indies team, Ricky Skerritt, to investigate the recent spate of injuries to members of the West Indies team now on tour of Zimbabwe with a view to determining the reasons for the unusually high number of casualties and coming up with measures to avoid such a recurrence in the future.

Skerritt has been mandated to gather information and opinions from medical personnel who have attended to team members in Zimbabwe, as well as from the WICB medical panel, persons involved in the preparation and training of the West Indies team for this tour and from the players.

The WICB's Chief Executive Officer, Gregory Shillingford, said the WICB is very concerned about the large number of injuries.

"The investigation will also consider external factors like the weather since this is the first time that Test cricket is being played during winter in Zimbabwe and there have also been several injuries to Zimbabwean players," said Shillingford.

The CEO continued: "We are nevertheless very pleased that the team is turning in some good performances in the face of this adversity and we are confident that they will continue to do so. The WICB remains committed to provide all the very best resources for the team."

The report will be submitted to the WICB medical panel for their recommendations. The WICB Medical Panel comprises Professor Peter Fletcher, Professor E.R. Walrond, Dr. Terry Ali, Professor Terrence Forrester and Dr. Akshai Mansingh, all of the University of the West Indies' (UWI) Medical School, and United States-based consultants; Dr. Answorth Allen, a surgeon, and Professor Dr. Sam Headley, an exercise physiologist.

Four players - Brian Lara, Mervyn Dillon, Cameron Cuffy, and Kerry Jeremy - have had to return to the Caribbean from Zimbabwe after sustaining a variety of injuries. Meanwhile, Trinidadian spinner, Dave Mohammed is set to travel to Zimbabwe tomorrow as cover for the injured Dinanath Ramnarine.

© CricInfo