© Reuters Limited 2001

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, June 29 (Reuters) - Trinidad and Tobago captain Russell Latapy and team mate Dwight Yorke have quit international soccer after they were dropped from the squad to face Jamaica in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday. "We believe that this is the best interest of all concerned," the pair said in a joint statement released on Thursday.

"We want to thank the fans in particular for their support over the years and wish the national team every success in all their endeavours." Trinidad and Tobago coach Rene Simoes dropped the pair after they failed to turn up for training after arriving on Monday from the national team's tour of Bermuda. Latapy subsequently returned to Britain to finalise contract negotiations with Scottish premier league side Rangers.

Simoes, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation technical director who took over as coach following Scotsman Ian Porterfield's dismissal on Monday, said the players had offered no reasons for their absence from Wednesday's practice.

Latapy was sacked by Hibernian in May for missing training and then breaking the team's drink curfew. Yorke, who shares Latapy's fondness for night life, was unable to command a regular first team place with Manchester United last season and clashed several times with manager Alex Ferguson.

Trinidad and Tobago have only a mathematical chance of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup Finals in Japan and Korea after losing four of their five games so far in their qualifying group.