BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC:

THE WEST Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has assured the region that the West Indies team will have contracts in their hands by this weekend.

In a statement on Friday, the WICB said that the players? contracts were delayed as the board sought clarification on a number of issues following an arbitration ruling last month.

"We accepted the arbitration ruling, but needed clarification on some issues, but at no point was it ever implied that we were questioning the ruling or our being bound to it," the statement read.

"The WICB met with the players and we are satisfied that all is well".

The players have been assured they will be issued with their contracts in the coming days.

The West Indies won their opening World Cup match in Group D against Pakistan on Tuesday at Sabina Park and will play their second match against Zimbabwe tomorrow at the same venue.