ST JOHN'S, April 24: The long-running contract dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) took another twist on Sunday when a new deadline was handed to players.

The WICB announced that it will meet with the WIPA on Tuesday in an attempt to complete retainer contracts negotiations.

West Indies are the only side in international cricket without a retainer contract system for its players and, despite the best efforts of the WICB, have found the players' unyielding in their demands for better terms and conditions.

The WICB's Cricket Committee, under the chairmanship of former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, had fixed last Friday as a deadline for completion of negotiations on the issue.

A meeting between WICB director Deryck Murray, the former West Indies wicket-keeper/batsman, and WIPA executive president Dinanath Ramnarine was held on Friday to discuss the matter.

“This meeting was inconclusive and a further session was arranged for Tuesday, April 25,” a WICB statement said.

“If arrangements are not finalised on Tuesday, the WICB will issue retainer contracts to the selected players. These players will have until May 3 to sign their contracts. Where contracts are not signed, alternative players will be selected.”

The regional governing body for the sport said the retainer contracts will be for a term of one year from May 2006 to April 2007.

The WICB is also expected to offer match/tour contracts, separate from the retainer contracts, to the players on Monday in an effort to assemble a squad in time for the first one-dayer against Zimbabwe which takes place here on Saturday.—AFP