West Indian board to pick alternative squad

West Indies selectors will meet today to pick an alternative squad of players for the tour of Sri Lanka. Most members of the current squad are locked in a contractual dispute with the board, and negotiations are on to try to break the deadlock.

The West Indies board announced that only three of the 17 players originally approached to play in the series had signed and returned their letters of invitation.

"We have been in touch with some of the players currently on tour with the A team in Sri Lanka, regarding their availability and have had a very positive response from them," said Roger Brathwaite, the CEO of the West Indies board, although Cricinfo reported a quite different scenario.

The West Indies board is keen to settle this dispute, for a failure to honour their commitment to the ICC-approved schedule could result in sanctions and fines to the tune of US$2million, something it can ill afford at the moment.

"We have a responsibility to Sri Lanka, India and the ICC to honour the agreement for this Test series and one-day international triangular contest and we will do all in our power to meet that commitment," said Braithwaite.

Meanwhile, the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) has said it was ready to compromise further "to ensure the tour of Sri Lanka takes place with the best players chosen on merit and cricketing ability." Dinanath Ramnarine, the president of WIPA, said that a fresh proposal had been tabled before the board. It is "our considered view that, having regard to all the present circumstances, our proposal is both fair and reasonable to all parties."

The West Indian team is slated to play two Tests against Sri Lanka, as well as a triangular series involving India.