Mortaza disappointed by Windies boycott

Kingstown (St Vincent): Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza on Wednesday expressed disappointment that his side will likely face a below-strength West Indies team in the first Test beginning here on Thursday.

The home team's 13-man squad for the opening match announced through the West Indies Players Association a boycott of the series due to contractual issues with the West Indies Cricket Board.

The selectors on Tuesday night hastily tried to get together a new squad, including drafting in players from an Under-19 tournament, and a number of replacement players arrived in St Vincent on Wednesday.

"We want to play the first team," Mortaza said after his team's morning training session. "We would like to play against Chris Gayle, (Shivnarine) Chanderpaul and others."

"I know they are world-class players but still we want to play them because we can learn so many things when those guys are batting or bowling," Mortaza said.

Among the new West Indian players arriving were fast bowler Tino Best, all-rounder Darren Sammy and opening batsman Dale Richards.

The 27-year-old Best appeared in 12 Tests between 2003 and 2005 and was a member of the 2005 touring team to Sri Lanka when the West Indies again had to send a replacement squad because of a similar dispute.

Sammy, who has played five Tests and 23 one-dayers, and the uncapped Richards were in the recent West Indies squad on their tour of England.

Among the other players heading to St. Vincent was Barbados' 16-year-old batting prodigy Kraigg Brathwaite, who had been in Jamaica for the regional under-19 tournament.