Just seven of the 16-member squad arrived, with the whereabouts of pacemen Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose also still a mystery.

Walsh was supposed to have arrived Monday, Ambrose yesterday.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said it has called an emergency meeting for today at its headquarters on the Caribbean Island of Antigua, and invited Lara and Hooper, who went to London instead of Johannesburg.

The West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) said the Board had turned down its request for a meeting in London. Instead, Lara, vice president of the association, and Hooper, the players' representative, would meet with association president Courtney Walsh and other team members currently in the British capital, the players' union said in Barbados.

``Everything is dependent on the outcome of the talks,'' said WestIndies team manager Clive Lloyd.

Lloyd, who arrived here with coach Malcolm Marshall and seven of the players, said a news conference would be held in South Africa today.

Former West Indies captain Lloyd refused to speculate over the future of the tour which includes five Tests and seven one-day internationals, but said the dispute had come as a shock.

``It is such an important tour we hope it comes off because we're all looking forward to it,'' Lloyd said before the team were taken to their Johannesburg hotel.

``We had a few meetings and I thought everything was fine. We were in Bangkok (in transit) when this happened,'' he added.

Both South Africa's players and Lloyd's depleted party arrived in Johannesburg from Dhaka where the two teams contested the final of the Wills International Cup on Sunday. South Africa won the match by four wickets.

South Africa's captain Hansie Cronje was clearly surprised at the development.

``We had a dinner with them (the West Indies team) the night after thefinal and nothing was mentioned about any financial issues. From what we could gather they were all coming and the first I heard about it was this morning,'' Cronje said.

WICB president Pat Rousseau issued a statement on Monday saying agreement on payment for the South African tour had been reached with the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA).

However, Wipa chairman Roland Holder disputed the Board's assertion that fees had been agreed. He said the two sides were still negotiating.

The players made it clear in a statement on Tuesday they were committed to the tour but were still in dispute over the money.

West Indies are scheduled to start their South African itinerary against an invitation XI near Johannesburg next Tuesday.

South Africa, however, are confident an imminent tour by the West Indies will be a success, with or without captain Lara.

``Obviously we would like to have Brian Lara lead the West Indies on their tour to South Africa, but even if he doesn't come they have an exciting teamfull of talented players,'' Ali Bacher, managing director of the United Cricket Board, said yesterday.

Bacher hoped it would not affect the tour. ``Hopefully, common sense will prevail and the matter will be sorted out.''