Dear Editor,
The West Indies selectors came up with a squad for the current series against Pakistan and their three most senior batsmen couldn’t find a place in the team. Ernest Hilaire, responded to the public outcry stating “we are rebuilding a new team for the future” and the Chairman of the selectors, Guyanese Clyde Butts indicated that the goal is to gather “a mixture of players who will take us through the next five to ten years. Are these two gentlemen speaking the same language? Mr. Hilaire if we are rebuilding a team for the future, are you saying that the discarded senior players have no place in the rebuilding process, because of a poor world cup? Mr. Chairman of Selectors what mixture are you actually talking about? A “new look team” without the most successful Guyanese batsmen?
We are rebuilding without Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, these gentlemen can make any other international team in the world except the West Indies’s “new look team”, yet the coach, Mr. Ottis Gibson is throwing his support behind a captain, Darren Sammy who cannot make any other international team in the world based purely on merit. If Sarwan is too old at age 30, what are we doing with Marlon Samuels? The ICC forced the hands of the WICB to ban this individual for two years after his alleged involvement with an Indian Bookie, now he is a part of the new youthful team for the future. This is the same Samuels who turned down the WICB offer to replace Dwayne Bravo at the recently concluded cricket world cup. We are also replacing, arguably the best wicket keeper in the West Indies, Denesh Ramdin with the “youthful” Carlton Baugh who was tried and failed many times in the past, is this what Mr. Butts and company calls rebuilding for the future with youths? Or is it the one size can’t fit all ideology?
Gayle, the `sagga’ boy, is so out of favour that he had not even been invited to do a fitness test. Is it because there were no “fruitful discussions” about retainer contracts between him and the WICB, as there were with Pollard and Bravo? Why Pollard and Bravo were relieved of their duties to represent West Indies in the current Pakistani tour for the more lucrative IPL and it was a problem to relieve Gayle, even though the selectors didn’t find favour with him? Is this double standard? Different strokes for different folks, this is called discrimination my friends.
Was Sarwan’s omission based on his world cup performance or the recent rumours of the ICC’s investigation, or because he is now the Secretary of WIPA? I know it was not very wise for him to be involved with the WIPA administration, while still an active player of the West Indies, but this should not be a factor for the selectors.
What happen to the “rock” called Chanderpaul, has he been now tossed into the ocean like a pebble? This is a man who was carrying the West Indies batting on his shoulders for a decade or so, in both forms of the game, but because of a dismal world cup performance he is now dropped. We cannot blame the “Tiger” for his world cup performance, since Ottis Gibson and the captain chose to put him to bat up and down the order and eventually dropped him for two matches leading up to the Semi-Finals. How do you want him to regain form, by carrying out drinks for the boys? Ottis Gibson knows nothing about batting and very little about bowling, but he is now calling the shots. If West Indies is looking to rebuild after the mediocre showing at the recent world cup, they can start by appointing a captain who can make the team on merit and find themselves a new coach who knows something about batting.
This brings back memories of the way Guyanese greats were treated by the WICB in the past. One can recall Alvin Kallicharran who captained the West Indies in the absence of some senior players who turned their backs on the West Indies when they chose to go for the lucrative Kerry Packer series. When the senior players returned Kallicharran was dropped by the WICB selectors when he was in the prime of his career. He would never wear the West Indies colour again.
I would like to appeal to all Guyanese to rally behind our cricketing heroes and let the Chairman of the WICB selectors, Guyanese Clyde Butts come up with some answers that make sense to the public. Mr. Butts do you really select the team or just sign off on the final team? I really thought that the panel of selectors operates independently and then get the board to sign off on the final team, but it seems as though I am wrong.
It is my opinion that Mr. Butts is just toeing the line and trying to solidify his position as Chairman of selectors by just being a “yes” man.
The players are best advised to take their training seriously, perform exceptionally well at the regional level and then you can demand your worth at the very top of the spectrum.
In other words let your performance speak for you, in this case there is very little room for excuses.
In closing, I would not be surprised if the game in Guyana is watched by an empty stadium. It’s time Guyanese and their cricketers are respected for their contributions and performance in West Indies cricket.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Harry Singh
