Pressure mounts of Gayle and company
Published:Thursday | September 3, 2009 | 8:42 AM
Leading West Indies cricketers such as Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul must play in a Guyana tournament next month to qualify for future national selection.
President of the Guyana Cricket Board, Chetram Singh, said the star players must participate in the limited-overs tournament beginning on October 27 or be deemed ineligible for upcoming series, including tours of Australia in November to December and next February.
His comments came a day after mediation to resolve the contract dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and senior players collapsed.
Singh, a member of the WICB, blamed the players for the break down in talks.
Senior cricketers 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.