No hike in Lara's pay

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) are strongly denying a story published in the Trinidad Guardian surrounding the tour fees of West Indies batsman Brian Lara.

In a joint Press release circulated late last night the two bodies said: 'The WICB and WIPA strongly deny that any payment in excess of what has been negotiated by WICB and WIPA for the players has been paid to Lara for the upcoming tour to England.'

The fees for the summer tour, which includes five Tests and a One-Day triangular competition featuring England and Zimbabwe, were negotiated between representatives of the WICB and WIPA and were only concluded on Friday in Guyana.

The individual members of the West Indies team are still to be notified by the WIPA Secretatiat of the fees for this tour. This exercise is expected to be concluded by tomorrow.

The Guardian reported that Lara received an offer he could not refuse, forcing him to have a late change of mind and making himself available for selection on the 16-man West Indies squad. The offer was reportedly three times his present salary, going from US$40 000 to more than US$120 000.

It was stated that losses could run into millions of pounds if Lara failed to play in England this summer.

Lara shocked the selectors with the news that he was leaving the game, changed his mind and offered himself late on Wednesday for the tour.

At the Press conference on Thursday, chairman of the West Indies senior selection panel, Michael Findlay, said Lara ex-pressed concern about his mother's health. But it was reported in the newspaper that when the Guardian visited Lara's mother in Santa Cruz on Thursday afternoon, she appeared to be in good health.

Lara later told Findlay adequate arrangements were put in place to handle his family problems.

'I am looking forward to the tour of England and the board can count on my full support in this regard,' Lara said.