The West Indies were due to play Nicky Oppenheimer's XI in Randjesfontein on Tuesday but the dispute has prevented the traditional fund-raising fixture going ahead on schedule. Dr Ali Bacher, managing director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, said the game has been ``postponed.'' Provided the row can be resolved in time, West Indies will now begin their three-month trip with a match against Gauteng in Soweto on Wednesday, Bacher added.

Bacher and West Indies Cricket Board president Patrick Rousseau were due to meet the West Indian pay rebels at 10.30 GMT. But that meeting was delayed while the West Indies team held their own talks at their hotel at London's Heathrow airport, where they have been camped for the last seven days while the dispute has dragged on.

There were more than seven hours of talks on Sunday but still no agreement could be reached, although a sponsor had been secured through the marketing company of former South African Test wicketkeeper Dave Richardson. But more money is not the only issue and the players are demanding the re-instatement of captain Brian Lara and his number two Carl Hooper who were sacked when they first protested about arrangements for the tour.