Lara has a contract with Cable & Wireless

West Indies players' union has accused the cricket board of "shifting the goalposts" after Brian Lara was dropped for the series against South Africa.

Lara was left out of the squad after declining a late invitation to play in the midst of a sponsorship row.

A 14-man squad has been chosen with Shivnarine Chanderpaul as captain.

"Wipa wishes to record its wholehearted support for the position which Mr Lara has taken in response to the board," said a players' association statement.

"It is clear that as soon as the players cross one hurdle, another is erected in its place, until we have reached the stage where the board has exposed itself as judge, jury and executioner.

Lara was invited to play after his personal endorsement contract was cleared by lawyers, but six others, including Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Fidel Edwards and Dwayne Bravo, were ruled ineligible.

I would be disappointed if we didn't play against their strongest team South Africa's Shaun Pollock

The West Indies Cricket Board suggested Lara agreed to participate only if others involved in the dispute were allowed to play.

The individual deals with Cable & Wireless, who until a year ago sponsored the WICB too, are at odds with the board's new sponsors Digicel.

But Lara's contract was signed in 2003, a year before those of the other players and before the Digicel deal was completed.

South Africa all-rounder Shaun Pollock hopes the dispute can be resolved before the first Test between the teams later this month.

"The missing guys form the core of their side and it would be silly if they missed out," he told the Sunday Argus newspaper.

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"From a personal point of view, I would be disappointed if we didn't play against their strongest team."

And Grenada prime minister Keith Mitchell fears the row could adversly affect the region's preparations for the 2007 World Cup.

"I am concerned by the message we send to the international community about the prospects for a successful World Cup," he said.

"(We need) to send the right message that we are ready to host a World Cup and be very successful at it."

Meanwhile, Digicel have dismissed as "unsubstantiated" claims it could sell its �11m deal to a local company in an attempt to resolve the row.

West Indies squad for first Test against South Africa starting 31 March:

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (Capt), Courtney Browne (Vice Capt; Wkt), Wavell Hinds, Devon Smith, Donavon Pagon, Narsingh Deonarine, Daren Ganga, Ryan Hinds, Corey Collymore, Pedro Collins, Dwight Washington, Daren Powell, Jerome Taylor, Reon King.