September 05 2009
West Indies must play in Guyana cricket tourney

West Indies cricketers who have been on strike for the past month in a dispute over pay and contracts must play in an annual limited overs tournament in Guyana in late October to qualify for selection for future series, a top official said Wednesday.
Chetram Singh, president of the Guyana Cricket Board, told reporters Wednesday that star players must suit up for the tournament in Guyana beginning Oct. 27 or be deemed ineligible for selection for upcoming series, including a highly anticipated clash with Australia in November.
"The players must play in Guyana or they will not be picked for any tours," Singh said.
His comments come a day after talks to resolve the pay dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and senior players ended without an agreement.
The players have complained that they have been forced to play without contracts for most of the year, have not been paid all they are owed, have not had injuries taken care of and were not consulted when the board agreed - on very short notice - to tour England in April.
Senior cricketers, including captain Chris Gayle and star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, went on strike in July on the eve of the home Test series against Bangladesh after negotiations with the board broke down.
A second-string side lost a Test and the series to Bangladesh for the first time.
The leading players ended their boycott before the one-day internationals, but they were overlooked for selection and Bangladesh swept that series.
The second-string players have also been retained for the Champions Trophy in South Africa later this month.