IANS

St Lucia (Gros Islet), Jul 7: West Indies cricketers skipped the launch of the World Twenty20 here indicating another showdown with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

Chris Gayle and his boys were notable absentees at the Beausejour Stadium Saturday night during the programme, which was attended by WICB president Julian Hunte, International Cricket Council (ICC) chief-executive Haroon Lorgat, the Indian cricket team and backup staff of the West Indies cricket team.

West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) president Dinanath Ramnarine said that the players were disappointed with the board's decision to host England outside the ICC Future's Tour programme and it was in direct conflict with the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL). The series hit the earning potential of players like Gayle, who held lucrative contracts with IPL teams.

During the series against England, the West Indies team had threatened to bocyott the fifth and the last one-day international on ground of pending payments by WICB.