Pressure mounts for WI cricketers
Published:Wednesday | September 2, 2009 | 6:33 PM
President of the Guyana Cricket Board, Chetram Singh says West Indies cricketers who went on strike last month in a dispute over pay and contracts must play in an annual limited-overs tournament in Guyana to qualify selection for future series.
The tournament bowls off on October 27.
Singh says if the players fail to participate in the tournament they will not be eligible for upcoming series, including tours of Australia in November to December and next February.
His comments come a day after talks to resolve the pay dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and senior players ended without an agreement.
Senior cricketers, including captain Chris Gayle and star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, went on strike 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.