Lara Dropped; Chanders is Capt.

Sun, Mar 20, '05

The West Indies squad for the first Test against South Africa will have a new captain, a new deputy and three newcomers but the biggest news is the axing of master batsman Brian Lara over a contract dispute.

When the squad was finally announced after a 24-hour delay, the WICB announced that Lara had given a "non-committal response" to its invitation to make himself available for the match. "[He] neither accepted nor rejected the invitation," the board said.

In his response, Lara put a proposition to the Board that could not have been entertained because it would require players to be selected on the team who were ineligible due to the nature of their personal endorsement contracts. In the circumstances the Board has decided that Lara not be included in the team for the first Test," the WICB said.

It means that the West Indies will field a second-string team without Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, four players with private endorsement deals with Cable & Wireless.

Guyanese batsman Shiv Chanderpaul will take over as captain in front of his home crowd while wicket-keeper Courtney Browne was named vice captain.

Devon Smith and Daren Ganga, both opening batsmen, have found places alongside Wavell Hinds while Narsingh Deonarine and Donovan Pagon have made the senior side for the first time.

The other newcomer is Jamaican pacer Dwight Washington.

Jerome Taylor returns from injury to find a place in the 14-man squad while Darren Powell also wins a recall.

FULL SQUAD:

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (captain)
Courtney Browne (vice captain)
Wavell Hinds
Devon Smith
Donovon Pagon
Narsingh Deonarine
Darren Ganga
Ryan Hinds
Corey Collymore
Pedro Collins
Dwight Washington
Darren Powell
Jerome Taylor
Reon King

The squad will go into camp from March 23-28 in Barbados.