Agence France Presse

St John’s, March 7:

Skipper Brian Lara and six other players were axed from the West Indies squad on Sunday for the forthcoming series against South Africa and Pakistan. Lara as well as Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Fidel Edwards, Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith and Ravi Rampaul were all missing from the list of 22 players named by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). The decision to drop the seven is a result of the ongoing row between the WICB and the players who have individual sponsorship deals with Cable and Wireless while the board’s backer is Digicel. However, the seven could still find their way back into the reckoning after Grenada prime minister Keith Mitchell announced he has calling a meeting on Monday between WICB president Teddy Griffith, West Indies Players Association (WIPA) president Dinanath Ramnarine as well as officials from the two sponsors.

An WICB statement said that a letter of invitation (to the players named in the squad) was accompanied by a contract and the players have been requested to respond to the invitation by March 11. Despite the impasse, Lara said he was confident that the row could be resolved.

“If I can help, I am prepared to speak to anyone, anywhere and at any time, but I suggest with respect that positive action is needed now,” Lara said adding, “I have great faith in the proceedings scheduled for Monday.” The 22 players will meet for a training camp in Barbados from March 23-28 during which the West Indies Team will be selected. The first Test against South Africa starts in Guyana from March 31.