Digicel Wants Lara in Australia

Digicel?s man of business in Trinidad & Tobago Liam McDermott is assuring Caribbean cricket fans that contractual considerations will not stop West Indies star batsman Brian Lara from touring Australia.

"No contractual problems will stop Brian Lara from playing for the West Indies in Australia," said McDermott. "Lara is a big asset to the team and Digicel is only interested in putting out the best team to represent the region."

"Hence we got involved deeper and are in the process of trying to sort out the problems with Lara."

Lara is the only player who still retains a contract with Cable & Wireless, a direct competitor of Digicel.

"We have been meeting with Lara?s representatives and I can tell you that no contractual problems are going to bar him from playing in Australia."

"I cannot say if he will be selected, but once he is chosen, he will be in Australia," the Digicel representative added.

McDermott said he is aware that the board and the players' association are currently negotiating through their legal counsels and he is hoping that they can put together the retainer contract.

"The retainer contract is the way to go, as far as I see it. I hope that the two parties can agree on terms. It is time that people look at what's happening on the cricket field, rather than the issues off it."

"This problem has lingered too long and Digicel is very anxious to bring it to an end and get on with the business of cricket. It is the hope of Digicel that the best team go to Australia and use this as the springboard for the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean," he added.

Lara and a number of leading regional cricketers missed the last tour to Sri Lanka, due to contractual problems. The players were concerned with a clause in their contract which they claimed infringed on their rights to personal endorsements.

* In association with Trinidad Guardian.