Cricket: Lara back for second test

GEORGETOWN, Guyana - Brian Lara has returned to the West Indies cricket squad for the second test against South Africa but Shivnarine Chanderpaul retains the captaincy.

Lara was captain until he and six others were left out of the squad for the first test here because of a potential dispute between the West Indies' main sponsor, Digicel, and the seven players' personal contracts with Cable & Wireless.

The six other players are Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, Ravi Rampaul and Fidel Edwards.

The dispute moved towards a resolution last Friday when Cable & Wireless agreed to conditionally release the players from their contracts.

Batsmen Sarwan and Gayle and allrounder Bravo have also returned to the squad of 12 for the second test, which starts in Trinidad on Saturday (NZ time).

The casualties from the squad who played the first test are Narsingh Deonarine, Donavon Pagon, Devon Smith and Daren Ganga.

The West Indies went into the first test as underdogs, but dominated until South Africa emerged with a draw today.

A West Indies Cricket Board statement said Chanderpaul, who was captain for the first time in his 81st test, would continue in that role for the rest of the series and the home series against Pakistan that follows South Africa's visit.

West Indies squad: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (captain), Courtney Browne, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Ryan Hinds, Dwayne Bravo, Daren Powell, Pedro Collins, Reon King, Dwight Washington.

- REUTERS