All-rounder Kieron Pollard and off-spinner Sunil Narine withdrew from the West Indies World Twenty20 squad Friday but officials insisted the moves were not sparked by the current pay dispute engulfing the team. Pollard, 28, pulled out due to injury while 27-year-old Narine said he was under-prepared as he serves out an international suspension for a suspect bowling action. Carlos Brathwaite has been drafted to replace Pollard while a replacement for Narine has not yet been named. "Kieron Pollard withdrew from the squad citing a lack of sufficient progress in his rehabilitative work (injury sustained in December) and hence won't be fit for tournament," said a spokeswoman for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). "Sunil Narine withdrew citing insufficient progress in the rehabilitative work on his bowling action. He is currently banned from bowling in international cricket." The West Indies squad is currently at loggerheads with the WICB over payments for the World Twenty20 in India in March. The players have been given until Sunday to sign their contracts for the tournament. Sammy calls for mediation West Indies captain Darren Sammy has called for mediation to settle a contractual dispute that threatens to wreck the team's chances of winning next month's World Twenty20. With the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) standing firm in its stance that players must sign the offered contract by Sunday or be replaced, Sammy's position could open the door to a resolution. It is the clearest indication yet that Sammy's 15-man squad does not want to boycott the World Twenty20, which starts in India on March 8. "As captain of the (Twenty20) team, I wish that we can settle this matter and focus on preparations for the tournament," Sammy wrote in a letter to WICB Chief Executive Michael Muirhead. "I want to state on behalf of the players that we want to play and will represent the West Indies to the best of our abilities." Sammy said mediation was the best way to settle the matter, if the board would not "consider our request to double the match fees (of $6,900), share 50 percent of sponsorship fees and award 100 percent of prize money to players." — Agencies
