Gayle ... on the way to New Zealand after visa hiccup. - File

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

CHRIS GAYLE and the rest of the West Indies team are well on their way to New Zealand after visa problems grounded all - except head coach John Dyson - from travelling on Monday.

West Indies captain Gayle and the rest of the players had been held up in Abu Dhabi and London, but the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) gave the suggestion in a news release that there was no reason for alarm.

"The cricket operations depart-ment of the WICB explained that travel arrangements had to be reorganised after the team decided to take advantage of the opportunity to stay on in Abu Dhabi for some intensive training," the news release said.

"This necessitated transiting Australia en route to New Zealand - for which visas were required."

Media reports indicated that Sulieman Benn, Fidel Edwards and Denesh Ramdin, as well as media liaison Philip Spooner - all of whom were travelling to cricket's southernmost outpost from the Caribbean - were holed up in a London hotel waiting for the WICB to obtain visas for them.

The rest of the squad remained in Abu Dhabi, where they have been, since the conclusion of a three-match one-day international series against Pakistan.

Dyson arrived in New Zealand on Monday minus Gayle and other players who had been delayed by visa issues.

He admitted that there were issues with the players' visas but he expected the rest of the team to arrive in Christchurch over the next couple of days.

Dyson said he was looking forward to a tough series against the Black Caps.

Meanwhile, Dave Cameron started a series of meetings across the Caribbean yesterday which the WICB hopes will deepen its relationship with territorial boards and local associations.

The vice-president of the WICB is in charge of development and he is on a two-day visit to Grenada during which he will have discussions with the countryÕs Sports Minister, Patrick Simmons.

Emmanuel Nanthan, president of the Windward Islands Cricket Association, accompanies Cameron on the trip.

"We are hoping that out of these discussions, we will have strategies for improving the administration of cricket in the Caribbean and, by extension, the quality of our cricket," he said.

"The WICB sees the territorial boards and local associations as integral to the operation and functioning of West Indies cricket."