LONDON, England (BBC) – The West Indies handed seven players their Test debuts against Bangladesh after 13 of the regular squad pulled out over continuing contract disputes.

Only captain Floyd Reifer, fast bowler Tino Best and all-rounders Darren Sammy and Dave Bernard Jr had previously appeared in Tests.

But persistent rain meant play was reduced to 18.5 overs in St Vincent.

Tamim Iqbal (14) and Imrul Kayes (26) gave Bangladesh an unbroken stand of 42 against their inexperienced hosts.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play two Tests, three one-dayers and a Twenty20 international on their four-week tour.

On Wednesday the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) said its members were no longer prepared to play without contracts.

The 13 players who pulled out included regular captain Chris Gayle, vice-captain Denesh Ramdin, batsmen Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan as well as fast bowler Jerome Taylor.

In a statement on the WIPA website, president Dinanath Ramnarine claimed: “We have made every effort since our meeting (with the WICB) in April to have the matters agreed upon honoured and those that were still to be agreed upon resolved in an amicable way.

“The fact remains the players have played their last four tournaments without a contract.

“They are now being asked to play their fifth consecutive series without a contract, which is highly unacceptable.”

However, despite dispute for the series against Bangladesh, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) was successful in finding players willing to don the maroon cap.

Reifer, two weeks short of his 37th birthday, played the last of his four Tests in January 1999, and said he was proud to be captain.

“I am honoured to captain the West Indies team,” he said.

“A lot of great people have captained West Indies.”

West Indies batsmen Dale Richards, Omar Phillips and Travis Dowlin, wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton, fast bowler Kemar Roach and spinners Ryan Austin and Nikita Miller all made their debuts.

And West Indies coach John Dyson added: “What we have said is that it’s a Test match, and an opportunity for them to showcase their skills to the cricket public here in the Caribbean and to the world.”

WIPA previously threatened strike action during England’s tour of the Caribbean in March.

It is also in dispute with the board over payments and fees for the tour of England in May, the Twenty20 World Cup and the recent four-match ODI home series against India.

In 2005, 10 West Indies players, including captain Brian Lara, boycotted the tour of Sri Lanka. That time the row between the WICB and the players’ association was over sponsorship.

The series took place with replacements brought in, but the tourists ended up losing 2-0.