GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC)

CARICOM has intervened in the bitter contracts dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players Association, and has rolled out a six-point plan in a bid to end the long-running feud that has crippled regional cricket.

The move comes following the breakdown last week of mediation talks headed by eminent Carib-bean diplomat Sir Shridath Ramphal.

save West Indies cricket

With no end in sight to the dispute, CARICOM's Prime Minis-terial Sub-Committee on cricket said it had decided to step in to save West Indies cricket from total ruin.

"The current situation, if not resolved immediately, will no doubt destroy the fabric on which to base any hope of reviving the region's standing in international cricket, or building a solid future for West Indies cricket," a release from CARICOM said late Friday.

"It is under these circumstances that the PMSC has decided to intervene in the process at this time and make recommendations on a feasible way forward.

"The main concern of the Heads of Government is restoring the image and status of West Indies cricket regionally and internationally."