Kingston, Jamaica – New chairman of the West Indies selection panel, Clive Lloyd, believes loyalty should be the order of the day as players contemplate decisions to either represent the West Indies against England or play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) next April.
The West Indies, currently ranked eighth in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings, are scheduled to face world number three England in a three-match Test series beginning on April 9 and ending May 5, 2015.
The matches, however, are set to clash with the ICC-approved IPL, which is held between April and June each year.
“What we are saying is that anytime we have our cricket we would like you to be here. You must play in our cricket. And, hope the players take it as it on board,” said Lloyd.
“What we are asking the players to do (ahead of the England series) is to show loyalty, and that West Indies cricket comes first. I know some people may not like how that sounds, but our cricket has got to be first.”
The IPL, arguably the most lucrative cricket domestic tournament in the world, attracts several of the West Indies leading cricketers on a yearly basis.
Explosive opener Chris Gayle, mystery spinner Sunil Narine, stylish batsman Marlon Samuels, and influential all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, head the list of players.
However, with the West Indies looking to re-establish itself as a world cricket powerhouse, and England offering several ICC Test rankings points, it is anticipated that these players will be asked to largely forego their 2015 IPL ambitions.
This is expected to put the players in a spot of bother given that what some players earn via an annual West Indies player contract is sometimes three or more times less than what they would earn playing for their IPL teams.
“We can understand the situation (of the players), however, it is not about earning all the money,” said Lloyd. (Jamaica Star)
