Leading West Indian cricketers, including captain Chris Gayle, might have to sit out of the Champions Trophy in September as the country’s board has decided to stick to the original 30-man provisional squad which didn’t have their names.

The West Indies Cricket Board said the 30 players announced earlier for the Champions Trophy would remain, despite the end of the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) strike which had resulted in the top players missing the ongoing Bangladesh series in protest.

This would mean that top players like Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo, besides Gayle, who were the leading lights of the pay dispute strike could miss the September 22 to October 5 tournament.

Fast bowler Fidel Edwards and Darren Powell, who also took part in the strike, however, made the cut to the 30-man preliminary squad made up of inexperienced players.

“This squad was chosen from among those players who declared themselves available for selection for the tournament within the deadline date for finalisation of the 30,” a WICB media release said.

“Selection of players by the selection committee of the WICB will at all times be made from the pool of players who make themselves available for selection and based on performance, conduct and demonstrated commitment to West Indies cricket.”

None of the striking players were included in the ODI squad against Bangladesh, which will be captained by 36-year-old Barbadian Floyd Reifer with Darren Sammy as his deputy.

Gayle and some players had made themselves unavailable for the Bangladesh series over pay and contract issues and resulted in a makeshift Windies side being hastily assembled for the two-Test series against Bangladesh.

Following a meeting between the WICB, WIPA and CARICOM chairman, Guyana’s president Bharrat Jagdeo on Tuesday, it was agreed that the players would make themselves available for selection while the outstanding issues were taken to arbitration.

Former Commonwealth Secretary General Shridath Ramphal was appointed as an arbitrator.

Following the end of strike it was expected that leading players would return for Sunday’s first One-dayer against Bangladesh after a weakened squad lost both matches of the two-Test series but the WICB did otherwise.

“They (are) not picking us for the first two games; so I guess that sums up the situation,” said Gayle.

“They are the boss playing hard ball,” he added. The bulk of the 30-man provisional Champions Trophy squad comprises inexperienced players who contested the Bangladesh series, many of whom have precious little international or first-class experience.

The crisis is West Indies cricket is getting deeper every day with the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) demanding an apology from the country’s board.

Thirteen leading West Indies players, including captain Chris Gayle, have gone on strike and boycotted the first Test against Bangladesh over pending contract issues. The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) struggled to get a second string side that lost the match.

The WICB has asked the rebel players to apologies or face non-selection for the Champions Trophy in South Africa in September.

In retaliation, the WIPA has send a strongly worded letter to the WICB and demanded apology for mismanagement in the affairs of the board, reports the Trinidad Guardian.

The letter was laced with sarcasm and said: “We apologies for demanding that our members play with a contract clearly outlining the terms and conditions.

“For insisting that all contracts be negotiated by WIPA prior to their being offered to the players.

“For asking the WICB to honour the agreement and pay the medical treatment when players sustain injuries.

“For asking that the WICB honour the 2007-2008 agreement and compensate the players who have been injured.

“For asking the WICB to deposit funds it had deducted from the players’ salaries and which it failed to pay to the Players Provident Fund Account (Pension Plan) for almost a year.

“For asking the WICB to reimburse players who sometimes have to purchase their own airline tickets while on duty for the West Indies.

“For not having training camps and specialist camps for the preparation of the team.

“For accepting to play in a series against England at a time of year when no other team has ever played.

“For asking that the WICB not sell players’ intellectual property and image rights without permission.”

The Players, the association said, “would be willing to apologies if the players had:

“Lost Five (5) million US Dollars in the sanctioning of a one-off international 20/20.

“Lost three (3) million US Dollars as a result of breach of agreement.

“Spent one (1) million US Dollars in the courts in London unsuccessfully defending a legal action.

“Had to defend several other claims for breach of contract, including one where the estimated loss of revenue is $500,000.00 US Dollars per year.

“Lost almost US $10 million dollars in almost one year for breach of agreements with third parties.”

“A perusal of the above should indicate from where the apology should come,” it added.

WIPA chief executive Dinanath Ramnarine said the striking players are united in their stance.

“Although they want to play, they’re not going to back down under this pressure,” he said.

WICB vice-president Dave Cameron said he was not aware of the latest development, but made it clear that any player who wanted to make himself available for the second Test would be considered for selection in the Champions Trophy.

“I cannot say if any of the players changed their minds they would be back into the team for the second Test,, but I think that they should be given a look at,” Cameron said.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle has signed up for Western Australia’s Retravision Warriors for this year’s domestic Twenty20 competition, officials said on Wednesday, hailing a major coup.

The left-hander, who is the world’s only international Twenty20 centurion, will play the ‘Big Bash’ competition between the Windies’ Test and One-day series here in November and December.

“With Chris we have secured one of the game’s best Twenty20 players,” said coach Tom Moody.

“Not only is he one of the most exciting batsmen in the game, he adds considerable experience as a Twenty20 player with international and Indian Premier League experience.”

West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo earlier signed for the Victorian Bushrangers team for the Big Bash.

The visitors may be short on star power but West Indies will do well not to underestimate the lesser known Indian cricketers, coach of the home side John Dyson said.

The visiting Indian team is without their star players Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan. Instead, the team under Mahendra Singh Dhoni has the likes of Abhishek Nayar, S Badrinath and Murali Vijay in the ranks — players who are virtually unknown to the West Indies.

Dyson said the hosts would make a mistake if they take the Indian rookies lightly in the four-match ODI series starting at Sabina Park on Friday.

“We don’t know how they’re going to perform and that’s something we have to monitor as the series progresses,” Dyson said.

Dyson arrived in Jamaica on Tuesday with six other West Indies players, including Trinidadian Darren Bravo, Dwayne’s brother and the coach felt the youngster stood a good chance in the series.

“If you look at the possible side that could walk out on the field, we have an extra batsman, we have an all-rounder who is also a very good batsman, normal pace and reserved pace which is good and spinner. Hopefully, (Chris) Gayle will be providing back-up spin to him,” he said.

Cricket India

Bested in the Twenty20 World Cup, revenge-thirsty India would come down hard on West Indies in the forthcoming ODI series, believes home side captain Chris Gayle.

West Indies not only beat India in the Super Eight stage of the Twenty20 World Cup but also laid bare their frailty against rising deliveries which was exploited well by England.

Gayle believes the side under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, however depleted, would seek to settle score in the four-match ODI series starting on Friday.

“We have a big game on Friday against India. We’re all looking forward to it,” Gayle said.

“India is always a good One-day team and they will be looking to beat us based on their Twenty20 disappointment,” he added.

Gayle said even though India would be without star batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, the bunch is still good enough to make life miserable for the hosts.

“Sehwag and Tendulkar are two world class players but they still have quality players to step up and they have a lot of experience in One-day cricket.

“They still have quality players in Yuvraj (Singh), Harbhajan Singh, (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni, (Ishant) Sharma and a lot of guys to give us a lot of trouble,” Gayle said.

“So it’s not a situation where we will say it’s a walkover. It’s never a walkover against India,” he added.

Having led the side to the semifinals of the Twenty20 World Cup, Gayle said he was happy with the support from all quarters.

“The support has been brilliant. The guys gave me their full support and I gave them the same sort of support and respect which they deserve. It’s been enjoyable.

“Captaining the West Indies has done a lot for me individually and I’m really happy and grateful to be captaining West Indies and the entire region,” Gayle said.

“It’s a privilege and hopefully I can continue from strength to strength and give everyone something to cheer about. Hopefully we can wrap up this series and am looking forward for a lot of things,” Gayle said.

Skipper Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan hit centuries as West Indies edged into a 34-run lead, with three wickets remaining, at stumps on the third day of the first Test on Friday.

Sarwan hit the top score of 107 and Gayle, 103, his first Test century on his home ground, to help their side reach 352 for seven, replying to England’s first innings total of 318, at close of play at Sabina Park.

England appeared to have control of the match, when they removed World Cricketer of the Year Shivnarine Chanderpaul about 15 minutes before tea to leave West Indies on 254 for five.

But they again met resistance in the form of a sixth-wicket stand of 66 between Brendan Nash and Denesh Ramdin.

Ramdin was one of two wickets England claimed in the final session, when he became Monty Panesar’s first wicket in the 37th of the left-arm spin bowler’s 45 overs, leaving Nash to shepherd the tail until the close with 47 not out.

Stuart Broad was England’s most successful bowler with three wickets for 61 runs from 24 overs, and Andrew Flintoff supported with two for 57 from 27 overs.

“It means a lot to me to score my first century on my home ground. It’s just unfortunate I couldn’t carry on,” said Gayle. “It will be nice to get a lead of at least 60 on this pitch. Hopefully, the spinners can come into play for us.”

Broad said he had to work hard on a tough pitch.

“It’s flat and slow. The surface here is a bit like the sub-continent. You have to use the cutter and try and deceive the batsman.”

England failed to make early inroads into West Indies’ batting, after the home team continued from their overnight total of 160 for one.

But Broad struck twice in the penultimate over before lunch to bring England back into the contest, after Gayle and Sarwan reached their landmarks.

Broad snared Gayle and then fellow hometown boy Xavier Marshall for a second-ball duck in the space of three balls, as West Indies reached 224 for three at the interval.

England’s successes only came following a second wicket stand of 202 between Gayle and Sarwan.

Broad got a delivery to keep low to Gayle, and the West Indies captain played back, and was bowled when he inside-edged the ball into his stumps.

Gayle batted for a little over five and three-quarter hours, faced 193 balls, and struck five fours and five sixes.

Clearly energised, Broad sprinted in to deliver his next delivery which rushed into the front of new batsman Xavier Marshall, but his and England’s loud appeal for an lbw verdict was turned down by umpire Tony Hill.

Broad tore in for his next delivery, and produced a similar delivery which trapped Marshall plumb on the front foot and Hill this time upheld the appeal.

It was a total contrast to what had transpired earlier, when Gayle and Sarwan looked in command.

England’s bowlers, particularly Flintoff, fresh from his record-equalling price at the IPL auction and whose seven overs included three maidens and yielded just 12 runs, placed them under severe pressure.

But they inched to the hundred-run threshold.

England captain Andrew Strauss belatedly introduced Panesar in the last half-hour before the interval, and Gayle, who benefitted from a referral to the video umpire on 85 when he was given out caught behind off Flintoff, exploded.

Panesar saw Gayle loft him for consecutive sixes over long-on, and then swept him to deep fine leg for three to reach his ninth Test hundred from 182 balls.

Sarwan went on to sweep Panesar to the deep fine leg boundary for his 10th four to reach his 12th Test hundred.

After lunch, England claimed the prized scalps of Sarwan and Chanderpaul to enhance their position.

Flintoff dismissed Sarwan, and Broad collected Chanderpaul, as West Indies reached 271 for five at tea.

Flintoff made the breakthrough for England 40 minutes after lunch, when Sarwan was bowled, chopping a shortish delivery into his stumps. The former West Indies captained batted for over six hours, faced 291 balls, and struck 10 boundaries.

An imposing partnership from Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan built a firm foundation for West Indies as they reached 160 for one in reply to England’s 318 all out on the second day of the first Test.

Skipper Gayle (71) produced a composed innings with the concentration and discipline he has often been accused of lacking and Sarwan (74) was back to form after his disappointing tour of New Zealand.

England’s first innings total, boosted by a smart knock of 64 from Matt Prior after they resumed on 236 for five overnight, appeared solid on a slow Sabina Park track but the reply leaves the tourists with a lot of work to do on the third day.

The solitary wicket for England came via the trial referral system, opener Devon Smith given out lbw to Andrew Flintoff by the third umpire, but ‘trial by television’ also handed the West Indians a vital reprieve.

Sarwan was on just five when he was rapped on the pads by Steve Harmison and umpire Tony Hill raised his finger but after the West Indians referred the ruling to the third umpire, Daryl Harper, the decision was overturned.

The television images indicated the ball hit Sarwan too high and the little Guyana right-hander took advantage of his second chance to build a sensible and well-paced innings.

His partner Gayle, like Kevin Pietersen in his knock of 97 on the opening day, largely restrained his instinct for stroke play although he began in fiery fashion by blasting Flintoff’s second ball of the day over mid-on and into the stand and later Harmison and spinner Monty Panesar went for sixes.

Flintoff, who responded to the six with the only genuinely dangerous bouncer of the match so far, bowled with real pace and aggression, putting aside any lingering doubts about his fitness.

He was the only real threat on a surface that gives little help to medium-pacers such as Harmison and Broad.

Most disappointingly for England, Panesar’s slow left-arm spin was largely ineffective a day after his counterpart Benn had produced notable turn and bounce.

England might regret not making more of their overnight platform – they added only 82 for the loss of five wickets after losing Flintoff early, the all-rounder failing to add to his overnight 43.

Jerome Taylor then removed Stuart Broad but Prior was tougher proposition for the home side though, playing some smart shots before he was dismissed caught and bowled by spinner Benn who ended with impressive figures of 4-77 from 44.2 overs.

Harmison and Panesar were dismissed shortly after lunch and then it was a long and largely fruitless day in the field for the tourists.