A statement from the Guyana-based Caribbean Community, which was asked to mediate the dispute, said the situation will "deteriorate further" without further undisclosed changes.

But it also urged Caribbean fans not to worry because "cricket is in our regional genes and cannot be lost."

The Caribbean Community appointed former Commonwealth secretary general Shridath Ramphal in July to deal with the ongoing problems between the West Indies Cricket Board and players association, and Ramphal said the situation "changed dramatically when one party introduced an entirely new document and refused to negotiate on any other."

The announcement did not indicate whether it was the board or the players, but the board's longest serving director, Chetram Singh told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he blamed the players.

"They are the ones always trying to break up things," Singh said.

According to the players, they played without contracts for most of this year, alleging they weren't paid, didn't have injuries taken care of, and weren't consulted when the board agreed to tour England in April as a substitution side.

Senior players, including captain Chris Gayle and star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, went on strike in July on the eve of the home test series against Bangladesh after negotiations with the board broke down.

A second-string side lost a test and the series to Bangladesh for the first time.

The leading players ended their boycott before the one-day international series, but they were overlooked, and Bangladesh swept the one-dayers. The second-string players were also retained for the Champions Trophy in South Africa this month.