Chanders, Powell, King Among Signees

Middle order batsmen Shiv Chanderpaul and Ricardo Powell are among the nine players who have brushed off advice from the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) not to sign the Match and Tour contract for the upcoming one-day series in Australia.

Chanderpaul, who has had a testy relationship with WIPA over the years, joined his Guyanese colleagues Reon King and Narsingh Deonarine in accepting the controversial 'Clause 5' that covers player endorsements and team sponsorship.

The other players who signed and made themselves available are Deighton Butler, Runako Morton, Dwight Washington, Xavier Marshall and Darren Sammy.

It essentially means that only two players considered certainties for the tour -- Chanderpaul and Powell -- will be available since the WICB has already decided to drop the bulk of the squad.

King's signature is being viewed as a major coup for the WICB. The right-arm fast bowler is Assistant Secretary of WIPA and his decision to go against the association's advice has caused raised eyebrows in some quarters.

Wavell Hinds, the other WIPA executive member who was in the original 25-man squad, did not sign.

The West Indies selection panel, which is being chaired by new coach Bennett King, is meeting today via conference call to select 16 replacements for the pre-tour camp.

At the same time, the bulk of the players are meeting with WIPA president Dinanath Ramnarine in Trinidad & Tobago.

The players are considering legal options, including restraint of trade lawsuits against the WICB.