BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (CMC):

THE WEST Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) have finalised match tour contracts for the current series against India, as well as retainer contracts for an undisclosed number of players.

This has been revealed by WICB chief cricket operations officer Zorol Barthley, who said an official announcement on the controversial matter is expected soon.

"What I want to say is that for this home series against India, we are operating on a match tour contract," Barthley said in an interview with CMC's CricketPlus during the third day's play of the third Test against

"There have been some discussions with WIPA obviously over the last couple of days. Things have been finalised and I think an official release is going to be coming from the board and WIPA, but I can guarantee you that after the fourth (and final) Test in Jamaica, the next time a West Indies cricket team takes the field, it will be on the retainer contracts."

It has been virtually two months since the retainer contract issue was said to be resolved but WIPA president and chief executive officer Dinanath Ramnarine recently accused the WICB of not being prepared "to move forward" amid rumours of strike action by the players ahead of the third Test.

Barthley said, however, that there had been long hours of discussions and eventually there would be "a very detailed document which is going to govern contractual issues of West Indies cricket."