Port-of-Spain: The West Indies cricketers admitted they were stunned at being handed an ultimatum to either sign new contracts or face being axed from the squad.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) had said on Wednesday that retainer contracts should be signed by Friday (yesterday).

The long-running saga between the WICB and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) has also held up an announcement over the appointment of a new captain following the resignation of Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Dinanath Ramnarine, president of the WIPA said he was “very shocked and surprised” with an ultimatum from the WICB.

“To be honest, I am very shocked and surprised, but nothing seems to surprise me with the conduct of the WICB, their modus operandi,” he told a Trinidad and Tobago daily.

Crowe Match Referee

Meanwhile, Former New Zealand captain Jeff Crowe has been named Match Referee for India’s five-ODI and four-Test tour of the West Indies beginning next month, another report adds from New Delhi. (Agencies)