KINGSTON, Jamaica — The West Indies Cricket Board said it has sought legal advice on allegations that suggest “wrong doing and misappropriation” of funds following calls for a forensic audit of the board.

Former presidents and officials have urged CARICOM to conduct a forensic audit of the board in order to save West Indies cricket from “absolute and total downfall”.

WICB in a release today maintained that the allegations are baseless and said it has been advised that “in a number of instances the call for a forensic audit carries the suggestion of wrong doing and misappropriation of WICB funds by present members of the WICB”.

The board said these allegations “appear triggered, not by fact or evidence, but an emotional reaction to the WICB’s response to the CARICOM sub committee’s report and other matters. These officials have completely ignored the written responses of the WICB”.

WICB further explained that the former officials recommending the audit are aware that, for years, internal and external auditors are retained by the board.

“The board’s internal and external audits are done and authorised by Price Waterhouse and KPMG respectively, and accounts are published by or available from the WICB on all its platforms, including the website where the reports are available,” WICB said.

The allegation, according to the board “suggests the auditors are either incompetent or complicit. These allegations are completely false, and seriously damaging to the reputation of the WICB, its members, and auditors.”

The WICB said it decided that these are serious allegations and said it has referred the matter to Senior Counsel, Anthony Astaphan of Dominica, for advice and recommendations.