TRINIDAD and Tobago and West Indies middle-order batsman Brian Lara remains non-committal about his future in English County Cricket.
Should he decided to return to the action though, he is expected to be contracted to Warwickshire until the end of the 1997/98 season.
The talented left-hander told the Express yesterday that when he initially signed with Warwickshire for 1995/96 season, it was a three-year deal which effectively keeps him at the club until the end of the season in 1998.
``As it stands I still have one year remaining on my contract with Warwickshire,'' Lara explained. The West Indies vice-captain was responding to questions as to whether he would accept a reported £150,000 (TT$1.5m) offer to play for the club next season.
Reports out on England on Friday had quoted the figure, which did not include bonuses, as Lara's likely salary should he return to English County duty.
But the double world record holder sidestepped questions as to whether he would in fact take up Warwickshire's offer for next season.
Lara confirmed though that it was definitely not an effort by Warwickshire to re-sign him. ``I'm contracted to Warwickshire until 1998. This year I was playing cricket with the West Indies so I couldn't play with them.''
After his first season with the club, during which time he led them to a double title and notched the highest individual innings of 501 not out, Lara asked for time off to rest. This was in November of 1995 and Warwickshire management agreed but apparently did not make Lara's pre-signed deal null and void
Lara was then ruled out of this season's English County season due to his obligations with the West Indies team which had two series against India and Sri Lanka and are set to leave here for a tour Pakistan at the end of October.
But for now Lara is keeping any forthcoming decision on his return to England under wrap. Should he do so, Lara will become the highest paid cricketer in England, surpassing Pakistani pacer Waqar Younis, who £100,000 (TT$1m) a season playing for Glamorgan.
He added though that he has until next April, when England will also be touring the West Indies, to make a decision.
Last year the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) offered contracts to the majority of its top players but not all of them, including Lara, signed.
Since then Trinidadians Phil Simmons and Mervyn Dillon have also received similar contracts but the WICB have been in ongoing contractual talks with Lara and other players.
Next year though, with the English tour of the West Indies carded for the early part of the season, it may be unlikely that the players with options to play in England will sign on the dotted line for the WICB.
Indeed, Lara pointed out that he was not the only player who would be in such a position. ``There are a lot of players on the team with options to be in England next year,'' Lara said.
``Walsh (Courtney) and Hooper (Carl), for example, are also in my position and the Board (WICB) is fully aware of our situation.''