Cricket-West Indies selectors stick with weakened squad

West Indies are sticking with their weakened squad for the one-day internationals against Bangladesh despite the leading players ending their boycott.

A deal was struck on Tuesday for the players, who are in a dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) over contracts and payments, to make themselves available for selection while negotiations take place.

It was widely expected that leading players such as Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo would return for Sunday's first one-dayer against Bangladesh.

A weakened squad had lost both matches in a two-test series against Bangladesh and players drawn largely from that team were named on Sunday for first two one-dayers, before the leading players ended their strike.

The WICB on Wednesday posted a squad list on its official website (www.wicb.com) which featured none of the formerly striking players.

No explanation for the decision was given and the WICB was not immediately available for comment.

"They (are) not picking us for the first two games; so I guess that sums up the situation," wrote Gayle, the pre-boycott captain of the team, on his twitter feed.

"They are the boss playing hard ball," he added.

The squad continues to be captained by 36-year-old Barbadian Floyd Reifer with Darren Sammy as his deputy.

The WICB and the players union WIPA met on Tuesday with the head of the regional economic co-operation body CARICOM, Guyana president Bharrat Jagdeo, and reached an agreement to have their dispute mediated.

In a statement issued by Jagdeo's office, the two parties agreed to have former Commonwealth secretary general Shridath Ramphal handle the talks.