The West Indies Cricket Board have ignored the recommendation of the selection panel and named Courtney Walsh to lead West Indies on their tours of Pakistan and Sharjah later this year.

Newspapers in Trinidad claimed that the selection committee - comprising Wes Hall, the chairman, Joey Carew and Mike Findlay - had unanimously agreed that Brian Lara should captain the team on the tours.

Hall told the Trinidad Guardian: "What I would like to say is that the West Indies selectors do not appoint or pick a captain. We only recommend a player - it's left to the executive of the WICB to accept or reject our recommendations."

The newspaper said that Hall, a former Barbados and West Indies fast bowler, suggested that a response from Stephen Camacho, chief executive officer of the WICB, or Andrew Sealy, the executive secretary, would be more appropriate because he would not like to involve himself in any controversy and mischief.

When contacted, Sealy remarked: "My only response is that the WICB have appointed Courtney Walsh as captain. I have no other comments to make."