PORT-OF-SPAIN, July 20: Star all-rounder Dwayne Bravo's failure to receive a retainer contract from the West Indies Cricket Board has prompted the players’ association to threaten action.

Bravo was denied a retainer contract because of his personal endorsement contract with a telecommunications competitor of WICB's title sponsor Digicel.

Bravo will still be eligible for selection and match/tour contracts on a series by series basis, but he was left off the first list of West Indies players to be offered retainer contracts, including captain Brian Lara, vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, former captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards and Denesh Ramdin.

The board said its decision to omit Bravo was in line with agreements with the West Indies Players' Association and the world body representing international cricketers.

But WIPA president Dinanath Ramnarine said he was “greatly concerned” with the move, and the board's decision to investigate Lara for comments he made about the selectors and pitch following the loss to India in the Test at Jamaica this month.—AP