Clyde Butts should explain why Sarwan has been omitted from the team

Dear Editor,

It is not anyone’s God-given right to represent the West Indies cricket team. However, I was appalled and surprised at the remarks made by the Chairman of the Selection Committee, Mr Clyde Butts, on October 17, in his announcement of the West Indies team to go to Sri Lanka, and moreso, the omission of Ramnaresh Sarwan.

To quote Mr Butts: “Everyone knows Sarwan is a quality batsman but injury has robbed the team of his ability quite often… the last time he was injured and rested. When he came back he got injured again. We want to see him in some more regional matches before he is selected for international tours.”

Even more perplexing, Mr Butts is quoted as saying: “People are going to say we’re going to struggle to win, but we would like [the West Indies] to start by drawing Test matches, by ensuring Test matches go on for five days and to show that sort of commitment on the field that we have been missing for some time. With a new captain and coach Otis Gibson, this can be where we can start building our team.”

Start by drawing Test matches? Commitment? Start building our team again? Unbelievable!
I vividly remember Coach Otis Gibson’s words when Mr Sarwan was recuperating: “Ramnaresh Sarwan is very important to the team. He was with us in Guyana and seeing him around was very good. He had a serious injury with his back. At the moment he could benefit from some more time to get fully ready. I don’t want to rush him back too soon. The last thing we want would be to rush him back and lose him for the long-term. It is a precaution to allow him to get 100 per cent ready for the major international assignments we have later this year.”

One of the “major international assignments” Gibson was referring to was the series against South Africa. He [Sarwan] returned for the One-dayers against South Africa and played the first three matches of that series before, going for a quick single in the third game, he damaged his hamstring – nothing strange for an athlete, fit or unfit. He played no further part in that series and sought treatment overseas.

Up to then, there was no talk or formal warning, according to Mr Sarwan, about his fitness or lack of it.  Mr Sarwan then returned to Guyana and played in the West Indies Twenty 20 tournament (every game), which Guyana won and qualified for the Airtel T20 Champions League. Our country’s charge was led by skipper Sarwan, who scored handsomely. He subsequently returned to the Caribbean, played Inter-County matches locally, and is currently participating in the West Indies Cricket Board’s 50-over competition, which he has started with a good score.

If indeed fitness is the issue, shouldn’t this accomplished player who has proven his class, both in and out of Sri Lanka, be afforded the opportunity to be in a West Indies camp, subject to fitness tests before the touring party leaves?

I could go on and on with Mr Sarwan’s achievements. I prefer not to.  Respectfully Mr Butts, you and your fellow selectors need to come up with a better reason for leaving out one of our team’s more experienced and reliable players.

If it’s not punishment, or another attempt to frustrate or discard one of our top players, could your panel inform the West Indian public which one of the current squad members has successfully completed a series without missing a Test or

One-Day International?  Further, if it’s punishment for some other reason, Mr Sarwan has already lost the battle, in not being offered a contract renewal. I suppose he is now about to lose the war.

Yours faithfully,
Dexter McKenzie