Bridgetown (Barbados), Mar 30 (IANS/CMC): The West Indies Players Association (WIPA) has congratulated the new West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president, Jamaican Dave Cameron, following his election victory in Barbados.

Cameron won seven votes to five defeating incumbent Julian Hunte who lost his bid to be president for a fourth successive two-year term.

Cameron's running mate Emmanuel Nanthan, the Windward Islands Cricket Board chief, also defeated Barbados Cricket Association president and legend Joel Garner, 8-4 to become vice-president.

"WIPA extends sincere congratulations to Messers Cameron and Nanthan on their successful bids for the leadership of West Indies cricket," said WIPA president Wavell Hinds.

"Both men have been around the administration of the regional game for a number of years now, and we expect that they are fully cognisant of the challenges which currently exist, as well as those to come."

WIPA is pondering its next move after losing a court battle earlier this week with the WICB over a disputed Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) and Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the two parties.

"For our, part we look forward to meeting with the new leadership team very early in their tenure to discuss a number of issues of concern to both parties"said Hinds.

Meantime, WIPA has lauded the contribution to West Indies cricket of the outgoing president Hunte, who has given 33 years of unbroken service to the region.

Hunte is the first WICB president originating from the OECS sub-groping.

"Hunte is to be congratulated for his service to our game and for his dedication to the development of cricket in the region," said Hinds. "WIPA wished him well in his future endeavours."