The visitors arrived late on Saturday and open their three-week trip with back-to-back limited-overs practice matches against Antigua Barbuda on Monday and Tuesday at the Jolly Beach Resort Ground.

The first and second one-day internationals in the seven-match series will be contested on Saturday and Sunday at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

"We are tired, but we are looking forward to the tour," said manager Andy Pycroft, the former Zimbabwe batsman.

"We have a very young and inexperienced team which is not used to playing one-day international cricket, but we will look to gain valuable experience on this trip."

Terry Duffin leads the side which drew a series with Kenya six weeks ago, following a settlement of the dispute between Zimbabwe Cricket and the players' union.

"This is the strongest side available, and though we have our own problems, we will focus on playing good cricket. We are not going to get involved in the politics," said Pycroft.

"The team includes a couple of decent spinners in Utseya Prosper, an off-break bowler, and our leggie Ryan Higgins is an exciting prospect.

"Our fast bowling attack relies on swing rather than pace, and our batting is inexperienced but talented."

The Zimbabweans arrived in the Caribbean with the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players' Association again embroiled in the long-running dispute over players' contracts.

The WICB announced on Sunday that it will meet with the WIPA on Tuesday in an attempt to complete retainer contracts negotiations.

West Indies are the only side in international cricket without a retainer contract system for its players and, despite the best efforts of the WICB, have found the players' unyielding in their demands for better terms and conditions.

Last Wednesday, the WICB's Cricket Committee, under the chairmanship of former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, had fixed last Friday as a deadline for completion of negotiations on the issue.

A meeting between WICB director Deryck Murray, the former West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman, and WIPA executive president Dinanath Ramnarine was held on Friday evening to discuss the matter.

"This meeting was inconclusive and a further session was arranged for Tuesday, April 25," a WICB statement said.

"If arrangements are not finalised on Tuesday, the WICB will issue retainer contracts to the selected players. These players will have until May 3 to sign their contracts. Where contracts are not signed, alternative players will be selected."

The regional governing body for the sport said the retainer contracts will be for a term of one year from May 2006 to April 2007.

The WICB is also expected to offer match/tour contracts, separate from the retainer contracts, to the players on Monday in an effort to assemble a squad in time for the first one-dayer against the Zimbabweans.

The WICB are also expected later this week to announce a captain to replace Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who resigned from the position two weeks ago.

ITINERARY
Date Match Venue
Apr 24 Antigua Barbuda St. John's
Apr 25 Antigua Barbuda St. John's
Apr 29 First ODI St. John's
Apr 30 Second ODI St. John's
May 6 Third ODI Georgetown
May 7 Fourth ODI Georgetown
May 9 Fifth ODI Gros Islet (d/n)
May 13 Sixth ODI Port of Spain
May 14 Seventh ODI Port of Spain