Brian Lara was among seven players dropped earlier this year

It is just the latest twist in an ongoing sponsorship saga which has dominated Caribbean cricket headlines.

Captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul, paceman Daren Powell, and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin are the only players to agree.

Seven players were dropped earlier this year over a personal endorsement deals with former sponsors Cable & Wireless.

These brought about serious conflictions with the team's current sponsors, Digicel.

The West Indies Cricket Board have been at loggerheads with the Players' Association (WIPA) for months and no agreement has yet been reached on the tour contracts.

"The WICB submitted that there would be insufficient time to resolve the issue before the tour if that process was followed and that in any event, this was not the type of issue that would helpfully lend itself to a provisional ruling," said a board statement.

Chief executive Roger Brathwaite warned that any further talks arising from such a ruling could "potentially delay or cancel the tour at a time when all arrangements were already in place".

If no agreement is reached, the WICB could decide to go ahead with the tour using players from the A team which is already in Sri Lanka, along with the three who have signed.