Lara, the West Indies captain, his vice-captain Carl Hooper and batsman Jimmy Adams were due to have attended the meeting in Antigua on Wednesday.

However, Ali Bacher, the Managing Director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, said he had been told by Steve Camacho, his West Indian counterpart, that the three players had failed to show.

The trio are believed to be in London with several other members of the 16-man squad selected for the five-Test tour.

According to Bacher, the players were represented in Antigua by two members of the recently-formed West Indian Players Association, former Test players David Holford and Roland Holder.

Less than half of the West Indian squad have arrived in Johannesburg after the dispute broke out over fees for their first official test tour of South Africa.

Lara and Hooper were among the players who stayed away.

Seven players, plus manager Clive Lloyd and coach Malcolm Marshall are continuing to make preparations for the series in South Africa.

Lloyd surprised by dispute

Hooper: Thought to be in London

Lloyd cancelled a scheduled press conference on Wednesday saying he would wait for the outcome of the meeting in Antigua before making any statements.

Earlier in the day he admitted the pay row had come as a shock

"We had a few meetings and I thought everything was fine. We were in Bangkok (in transit) when this happened."

Wage negotiations

The WICB president, Pat Rousseau issued a statement on Monday saying agreement on payment for the South African tour had been reached with the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA).

However, the WIPA chairman Roland Holder disputed the board's assertion that fees had been agreed. He said the two sides were still negotiating.

The players made it clear in a statement on Tuesday they were committed to the tour but were still in dispute over the money.

The West Indies are scheduled to start their South African itinerary against an Invitation XI near Johannesburg next Tuesday.