Windies coach King battles on with depleted squad

West Indies head coach Bennett King was trying to remain optimistic for next week's first Test against South Africa, despite the contract dispute that has robbed him of seven players, including skipper Brian Lara.

Lara was left out of the squad by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) after failing to reach agreement over personal endorsement contracts.

Lara, like vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith, Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul, has a personal sponsorship deal with Cable and Wireless, meaning a potential clash with the West Indies' main sponsor Digicel.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul will lead the team in Lara's absence for the first Test, starting in Georgetown next Thursday.

"I think it's disappointing that the seven (the Cable & Wireless players) are not there, whatever the reasons, but it opens opportunities for other players to show what they're worth," Australian King told the Trinidad Express.

The depleted squad of 14 has arrived in Barbados for a pre-series training camp, with negotiations regarding their participation still ongoing.

"We'll be working hard over the next five days of the camp to get everyone as properly prepared as possible for what is going to be a tough series," King added.

"In the circumstances, we'll pay attention to the personal as well as the technical side of things."

Digicel's five-year sponsorship deal, which is worth about $20 million and is the biggest in West Indies history.