BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP):

The West Indies Cricket Board and the region's players' union will hold crisis talks today to try and break an impasse that threatens to lead to a boycott of the fifth one-day international against England.

WICB president Julian Hunte is believed to be leading a delegation to meet Dinanath Ramnarine, the president of the West Indies Players' Association and his representatives in St Lucia to try and save Friday's match.

The deadlock has already seen regional first-class players go on strike, leading to the cancellation 11 days ago of some 11th-round matches in the WICB's four-day competition.

There are five West Indies players who have signed on to the lucrative 2009 Indian Premier League (IPL), a tournament which clashes with the team's tour of England in May. This conflict is one topic certain to be on today's agenda.

Many concerns

WIPA has a long list of concerns with the way the WICB governs cricket in the region, including the contention that the board usually makes decisions without consulting the union as had been previously agreed between the two bodies.

While Ramnarine has declined to make any public statements, West Indies captain Chris Gayle and allrounder Dwayne Bravo have spoken of their frustrations.

"When there are issues to be dealt with, then they should be dealt with," Gayle said Sunday. "I am still disappointed with the way things have gone. I think they (WICB) are still trying to bypass WIPA.

"We, the players, actually instruct WIPA to go about what we want at this point in time. It is not the case that WIPA actually goes out on its own and does these sorts of things. We, the players, ask for these things, these changes."

Failed to consult WIPA

Bravo said the WICB failed to consult WIPA when agreeing to the tour of England starting in May. Ironically, the West Indies replaced Sri Lanka on the tour because their board opted out of the series to allow their players to take part in the IPL.

"The WICB went on and signed that tour without letting WIPA know anything about the tour," Bravo said. "We signed our contract to go and represent our IPL team, now we are in a position where we have to choose whether to go and play IPL for the first six weeks or go to England. It is a tricky situation."

WIPA also wants first-class players' salaries to be increased, proper retainer contracts to be put in place and to discuss the late payments of fees, injury payments and the upcoming scheduling of regional and international tournaments.

The WICB sought to tackle some of the main issues last Friday, announcing that it has proposed an increase in player wages in the first-class tournament with match fees rising from $300 to $1,000.

"The new WICB proposal includes among other things, the allocation of some 22 per cent of the board's annual revenue to players salaries, the provision of retainer contracts for all first-class players and an increase in the match fee for first-class players," the WICB said in a statement.

West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor (left) receives an award from Sir Everton Weekes, on behalf of the West Indies Cricket Board, for his exemplary contribution to the game after he had completed his last official assignment in the fourth one-day international between England and the West Indies at Kensington Oval, Barbados, on Sunday. The Jamaican retired following a distinguished career as one of cricket's top umpires. - photo by Dellmar