The seven players who had arrived in South Africa on Wednesday accompanied a delegation of South African and West Indian officials which flew out of Johannesburg yesterday for the British capital, in a last-ditch attempt to save the West Indies' first full tour to the republic.

A West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) release yesterday said the seven had agreed to stay in South Africa.

But last night secretary of the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA), Roland Holder, confirmed to WEEKENDSPORT that the players had indeed left to join their colleagues.

''Players in London and in South Africa are in solidarity and are standing firm on the issues,'' the WIPA said in a statement earlier yesterday.

The seven players refused to comment on the situation at Johannesburg airport.

They said they had agreed with Ali Bacher, managing director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, that they would not comment. Also travelling to London were West Indies tour manager Clive Lloyd and WICB member Joel Garner.

The delegation will talk to sacked West Indies captain Brian Lara and eight other players stopped over in England rather than Johannesburg because of a dispute over tour conditions.

The WICB's decision on Wednesday to dismiss Lara and Carl Hooper, the captain and vice-captain respectively, has led to the worst crisis in Caribbean cricket in 20 years.

The impasse is threatening to wipe out the three-month South African tour, which is scheduled to begin with a one-day match on Tuesday.