BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

THE WEST Indies Players Association (WIPA) has assured the region there will be no contracts dispute during the ongoing Cricket World Cup but says it still plans to pursue several issues with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) over the contentious matter.

In a statement issued on Monday, WIPA president and CEO Dinanath Ramnarine said the relevant players' contracts for CWC 2007 had already been signed, though they had 'deviated from certain agreed provisions'. "The West Indies Players' Association wishes to reassure the public that the relevant player contracts for the ICC World Cup have been signed," Ramnarine said. "The contract was only sentto WIPA by the board on Wednesday, March 14, 2007, more than one month following the binding award of the arbitrators, and after several efforts by WIPA to get action on the matter.

Legal advice

Immediately on receiving the contracts, WIPA sought legal advice, and advised the players to sign, notwithstanding the fact that the contracts deviated from certain agreed provisions.

"These will be referred to further arbitration in order to avoid any distractions or undue concerns on the part of our players."

Concerns over another contracts dispute between WIPA and the WICB surfaced recently after it was revealed that players still had not been issued with contracts, more than a month after a high-powered arbitration panel put forward a binding resolution to the problem.

West Indies captain Brian Lara said over the weekend there would not be a strike by players and placed his faith in the players' body and the board to find a solution to the issue.