PORT-OF-SPAIN, MARCH 3: Exactly one week after resigning from the post of West Indies cricket captain, Brian Lara has reneged on his promise to play in the forthcoming home Test series against Zimbabwe. The 30-year-old from Trinidad and Tobago does not plan to attend a nine-day camp which starts on Friday for a West Indies training squad in Jamaica and has effectively ruled himself out of the series. "I had several discussions with Dr Rudi Webster prior to my resignation as captain of the West Indies cricket team and further discussion more recently with Pat Rousseau, President of the West Indies Cricket Board," Lara said in a statement released late on Thursday. "(I made) a visit to Dr. Webster on Wednesday in which I shared concerns about my cricketing future. "I have come to the conclusion that it is essential for personal reasons that I take a break from cricket for a short period with immediate effect," he added. Rousseau had stated at a news conference in Jamaica on Sunday that Lara had given an assurance that he would play in the home series against both Zimbabwe and Pakistan, even though he had resigned as captain. The Trinidad Express had reported earlier this week, however, that Lara had intended to take a three-month break from the game after relieving himself of the captaincy which he held for two largely unsuccessful years - the pinnacle being a 2-2 home series draw with world number one Australia last year. With Trinidad and Tobago in the middle of their annual Carnival celebrations, Lara has a big fete planned for this Sunday at noon in his mansion in the Trinidad capital of Port-of-Spain. It is to go through until dawn the next day which is usually called `Carnival Monday' and tickets have been on sale in recent days at $ 50 per person. A number of top calypso acts from Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean are down to perform. In his release, Lara said: "During this (break), I intend with the assistance of the appropriate professionals to rebuild all facets of my game so as to sustain the remainder of my cricket career. "I regret any disappointment that my decision will cause West Indies cricket fans, but ask for your patience. I would also like to thank the West Indies Cricket Board for their support at this difficult time." Andrew Sealy, executive secretary of the WICB, said the news was very disappointing for West Indian fans. "Clearly, the West Indies team will need to be totally focussed to face-up to the challenge of Zimbabwe without the world's premier batsman," Sealy commented. BRIDGETOWN:Middle order batsman Jimmy Adams is heavily tipped to be named West Indies cricket captain for the forthcoming home series against Zimbabwe, it was reported here on Friday. The Barbados Advocate newspaper reported that an informed source in Kingston said Adams is likely to be the new captain after Brian Lara resigned from the post last week and the announcement would come by this weekend. "Jimmy is the overwhelming favourite of the selectors," the source told the Barbados Advocate. The source added that the West Indies selection panel of chairman Mike Findlay, Joey Carew, former fast bowling legend Joel Garner and new coach Roger Harper had already forwarded recommendation to the West Indies Cricket Board. Andrew Sealy, executive secretary of the WICB, confirmed on Thursday night that there will soon be an announcement of the new captain. "The captain is expected to be named within 48 hours," said Sealy, who is currently in Barbados. Since ace batsman Lara, 30, announced his decision to step down a week ago after a chequered and at times turbulent two-year reign, there has been widespread debate over his likely successor. The 32-year-old Adams, who was vice-captain for the home series against Australia last year as well as the disastrous 1999-2000 tour to New Zealand, led Jamaica to this year's West Indies first-class championship. A veteran of 48 Tests and 104 limited-overs internationals since he made his Test debut eight years ago, Adams' batting has come under the microscope of late, a slide that coincided when he had his jaw shattered on a tour of England. Some observers have even argued that he would be hard-pressed to find a place in the current Test side. The unassuming Adams is, however, regarded as a player who can earn the respect of team-mates. He led the West Indies in the last three of the seven-match limited-overs series against Australia in the Caribbean last year when Lara was sidelined by a wrist injury. Adams has scored 2,326 Test runs including five centuries at an average of 45.60, and 1,797 runs (average 30.45) in limited-overs cricket. Findlay revealed that the 13-man squad for the first of two Tests against Zimbabwe at Queen's Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, will be chosen on March 10 at the end of a brief training camp in Jamaica. ST GEORGE'S:Zimbabwe will commence their acclimatisation to Caribbean conditions when they face a West Indies Cricket Board XI in the opening match of their tour on Saturday. Zimbabwe will become only the second international side to play at the Queen's Park Stadium since it was refurbished last year for the home series against Australia. It will be the tourists' first match ever in the Caribbean. "The guys are ready, they are really looking forward to the tour," captain Andy Flower said on his arrival Wednesday. "For everyone, it is our first trip to the West Indies and we want to leave in a positive frame of mind to go on to England and do well there." Zimbabwe are likely to give most of their top players a chance to play in the match, the first of two warm-up, first-class contests before the opening Test against West Indies at Queen's Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, from March 16 to 20.
