Port of Spain: The West Indies have eventually decided to play a tri-series against India and Australia in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur next month.
Despite the pay dispute with the players' organisation still unresolved, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has accepted Board of Conrtrol for Cricket in India's (BCCI) invitation to participate in the tournament in September and selected a squad of 14 led by Brian Lara.
However, WICB bypassed the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and issued match/tour contracts directly to selected players, Trinidad and Tobago Express reported on Saturday.
This was done after talks between WICB representative Deryck Murray and WIPA president Dinanath Ramnarine, and subsequent discussions between Ramnarine and Board president Ken Gordon, broke down, a WICB press release said.
"It has now become imperative that we act if we are to participate in this series because of the tight timelines between now and the September tournament," the release said.
Carlton Baugh was selected as the wicketkeeper for the tournament replacing Denesh Ramdin. Fast bowler Fidel Edwards returns to the squad after missing the last three Tests against India due to a hamstring injury.
Offers to the players for the series ranged from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $59,000 per player, with the "prospect of each player earning an additional 50 per cent on these fees if West Indies qualifies for the final," the release said.
The selected players have been given until August 10 to accept the invitation, after which the WICB said that another team will be chosen to replace West Indies in the series, the paper reported.
The WICB claimed that the fees offered were "unprecedented" at 488 per cent of the normal match fees, and "25 per cent of the net revenue to be paid to the WICB for the series."
This was only possible due to the "one-off nature of the series" and the Board's commitment to "enhance earnings of players whenever practicable," the release added.
The WICB also deemed "unacceptable" the WIPA's demands ranging from $40,000 to $95,000 per player which it said represented 40 per cent of the net revenue the WICB were due to receive, and almost double the premium on normal match fees.
Squad:
Brian Lara (C), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Runako Morton, Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith, Carlton Baugh (WK), Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Ian Bradshaw, Jerome Taylor, Marlon Samuels, Wavell Hinds.
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