Members of Bermuda?s World Cup-bound national cricket team boycotted a training session after rejecting new playing contracts.

The players refused to attend practice on September 16 at the National Sports Centre, just hours after turning down the Bermuda Cricket Board?s latest contract proposal.

But while national team cricketers have since returned to training in preparation for next month?s lengthy tour of Africa, the ongoing contractual dispute has yet to be resolved.

It is the second time this year the Board and national team cricketers have been at odds over contractual issues.

According to sources, Board executives Neil Speight, Marc Weatherhill, Gary Fray and president Reggie Pearman met with national team cricketers on Friday, September 15 to discuss terms of a new contract draft valid until December 2006.

But after reviewing the initial draft, national team members refused to accept the new deal, primarily because of the Board?s decision to withdraw the player?s monthly retainer fee.

National team cricketers then took further action by not attending the next day?s scheduled training session at the NSC.

When contacted yesterday, BCB first vice president Gary Fray confirmed that the players were in fact in disagreement with the initial draft, but denied having any knowledge of national team cricketers boycotting a practice session.

?As far as I have been made to understand the players are discontent with the draft contract. This is what it is . . . . a draft. And that?s why we (BCB executives) had to sit down and discuss it with them,? Fray told

?It wasn?t a final contract that the Board submitted to them and told them (players) to sign off on it. It distinctively stated it was a draft so that we could sit down and discuss the matter.

?I don?t know who has taken things out of context. But we are trying to be as liberal as possible to make sure the players and everybody concerned is well taken care of.

?And I believe this was one of the reasons the executives (BCB) decided to place the draft in front of the players ? not the contract to sign ? but a draft for them to approve it and then come back to us with any discontentment or whatever the case maybe so that we can work on it.?

It is understood national team cricketers met with national coach Gus Logie to air out their grievances at the Sports Centre on Sunday, September 17.

And it?s now anticipated Logie will relay any of the player?s concerns during a BCB executive meeting to be held tonight at Board headquarters.

?Negotiations are still ongoing between the players and the Board, but as coach this matter effects me on both sides,? Logie told

?My job is to make sure the players are out there on the field playing and also to make sure they are comfortable while playing.

?And if it means I have to talk to the players as well as the Board, then that?s what I have to do. I?m only doing my job.

?But basically I always meet with the Board to sort things out I feel need to be sorted out.?