Decision today on Windies team

And the situation heads for a showdown once again between the players represented by the West Indies Players’ Association and the WICB who are at loggerheads about the controversial Clause 5 of the tour contract.

The WICB had circulated the contracts to 13 players they had asked to make themselves available for the tour but the deadline for signing expired on Tuesday night with only three players signing on the dotted line.

Among the three is captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Today a teleconference will take place with the West Indies Cricket Board officials and the selectors headed by Joey Carew when a decision will be made on the team.

One option bandied about is to contract the West Indies "A" team currently in Sri Lanka for a series which starts today.

The "A" team is led by Trinidadian Daren Ganga and includes several players with regional and Test experience looking to get back on the senior side.

It is understood that failure of the WICB and WIPA to successfully negotiate a settlement to the impasse will place the WICB in the untenable situation of having to forego the one-day and Test series in Sri Lanka.

However, by utilising the "A" team members for the senior tour will ensure that the WICB are not penalised for scuttling the tour which could mean serious censure by the International Cricket Council and a hefty fine.

Among the players who reportedly have refused to sign the tour contract are senior players Brian Lara, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Wavell Hinds, Corey Colleymore and Fidel Edwards.

A similar situation developed earlier this year before the VB triangular One-Day international series involving hosts Australia and Pakistan.

However last minute intervention by regional governments allowed the tour to proceed.

But again the contentious Claude 5 involving personal endorsements and individual rights to their image has reared its ugly head.

The issue came to the forefront after the WICB signed a new sponsorship contract with mobile telecommunications provider Digicel ending a near two-decade partnership with Cable and Wireles.