THE DISPUTE over player endorsements has taken another twist in West Indies cricket, thus causing a delay in the announcement of the regional squad for January's VB triangular one-day series in Australia. Roger Brathwaite, Chief Executive Officer of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), confirmed yesterday that "the board is waiting to hear from Prime Minister (Keith) Mitchell with respect to the process we are going through." It is understood that 18 names were submitted to the board, including four standbys, and the possibility exists that captain Brian Lara, vice captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo may not make the trip to Australia. The four players are considered sure picks in the squad to Australia but their endorsement deals with Cable & Wireless, a competitor of Digicel, the board's main sponsor, could affect their selection. Brathwaite confirmed 18 names were forwarded to the board. "The selectors have met, they have made contingencies and are waiting the outcome of the meeting with the Prime Minister," he said. C&W DEALS However, when asked if the four players with Cable & Wireless deals could be left out of the team to Australia, Brathwaite said: "I am not at liberty to comment on that, that is speculation. We are waiting on the outcome of the adjudicator's ruling and the meeting with the prime minister." The dispute between the WICB and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) arose through a conflict between some players endorsements which conflicted with that of the board. A meeting was called between the parties by Grenada Prime Minister Mitchell, who is the chairman of the Cricket Sub-Committee of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). After the meeting, Vincentian judge Adrian Saunders was brought in as adjudicator of the contract dispute. Saunders, who is acting Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), will issue a binding ruling on the disputed Clause 1-K of a previous match/tour contract that has a direct bearing on the current controversy. Although he did not say when the ruling would be handed down, Brathwaite believes the "the adjudicator's ruling is binding on both parties." FINDINGS However, CMC reported yesterday that adjudicator Saunders had sent his findings yesterday Dr. Mitchell. Justice Saunders declined to give details of his report, saying only the Grenadian Prime Minister had the right to disclose such information. What he did disclosed was that his findings would be binding since both parties to the dispute agreed to his adjudication and to accept his interpretation to clause 1K of previous WICB match/tour contracts, and other findings and/or recommendations. As to when the squad will be released, Brathwaite said he could not say. "There is a process that we are working through, I have no idea what is going to be the outcome and what guidance the prime minister will be given." "At the appropriate time, if there is an announcement to be made, it will be made with respect to what is happening." At the end of a three-week training camp in Barbados on Tuesday, new West Indies head coach Bennett King confirmed he had forwarded the names of 18 players to the board. "The selectors, including myself, picked a team and sent it to the board," Bennett said. "There are some matters to be dealt with relating to some players," King said. Dinanath Ramnarine, the WIPA's president, said he didn't know what was causing the delay in the ruling. "We agreed to attend the training camp. We also agreed to wear the Digicel clothing during the camp," he told CricInfo. "But the players are entitled to be compensated for this and while they won't be paid during the camp, we will negotiate their fees with the board ahead of the Australia tour and include it in the tour payments," he said. Reprinted from jamaica-gleaner.com