In an attempt to paper over the embarrassment created by the delay, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) postponed its first announcement by three hours on Thursday.

Then, when it realised the players were still undecided over certain issues, NZC had to admit negotiations were incomplete later in the day.

However, it insisted it was "hopeful" negotiations would be concluded by the end of Friday and says it will "advise details of the team announcement as soon as practical."

The principal negotiations are between NZC and the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association (NZCPA).

"Those negotiations are incomplete and until a resolution has been reached the team to tour the West Indies will not be named," said the NZC in a statement.

In the recent past, players have begun to quit international cricket in a worrying development for the game in New Zealand.

Already this year, wicket-keeper Adam Parore, and seam bowlers Chris Drum and Dion Nash have quit the game.

While Nash was more than anything frustrated by constant injuries, Parore had fallen out with the selectors.

Drum, however, simply felt his financial future was not safe.

NZC chief executive Martin Snedden said the latest developments had left him disappointed.

"I had expected that the negotiations would be resolved by now, however, I felt the players needed some space after their early return from Pakistan," he said.

"This delayed the start of our negotiations with the players' representative."

New Zealand returned from Pakistan on 9 May after abandoning the rest of their tour following a bomb blast near the team hotel in Karachi which killed 14 people.

Pakistan swept the limited-overs series 3-0 and had a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series when the New Zealand team was recalled.