Dear Editor,
Please permit me to agree with Ian McDonald on the trashing of our regional side by Australia. He was right in opining that the West Indies would have been better off with Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the team. I am confident about that too.
The present squad represents talent and experience, but not morale. Morale, because the team just witnessed the disrespectful manner in which their companion of 21 years was cast aside by the West Indies Cricket Board and selectors. Tell me, Editor, what is on the mind of our batsmen as they go in to bat? Why should they battle for us like Chanderpaul did? This distateful treatment of a stalwart of this calibre will not go away like a shower of rain. Clive Lloyd, the selection panel and the West Indies Cricket Board need to sit and rethink this. The way senior players are treated has a lot to do with the morale and aspiration of the whole team, even long after they are gone.
I suggest:
- Recall Chanderpaul for the next upcoming Test series.
- Let the next Test match at Providence be his last. Until then, retain him in the squad but play him alternately with a replacement in mind.
- I would urge the Georgetown Cricket Club, Guyana Cricket Board and our new Minister of Sport to plan a national send-off for this great batsman. In doing so, we will inspire not only cricketers, but sportsmen and sportswomen to aspire to their full potential, cognizant of the fact that our nation and region stand behind them. We will not just cast them aside.
Dave Martins correctly asked the question in his song, ‘Where are your Heroes Caribbean, Show me!’
Here are four: Clive Lloyd, Brian Lara, Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Yours faithfully,
Rev Indradeo Mohabir