(Trinidad Guardian) Support continues to grow for T&T and West Indies off spinner Sunil Narine, as the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs has given the spinner $35,000 to help correct his bowling action in an effort to represent West Indies at the World T20 Tournament in March.
At a press conference yesterday, which was attended by members of the T&T Cricket Board and the Queen’s Park Cricket Club at the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs on Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, Minister Smith presented the cheque to Narine.
Narine, who has had issues since 2011, was reported for a suspect bowling action in November by the International Cricket Council following the third One-Day International against Sri Lanka. After being tested at Loughborough University in England on November 17, Narine’s action was found to exceed the 15 degrees level of tolerance. Narine, who has been named on the West Indies provisional squad for the T20 World Cup, is hoping to travel to Loughborough University next month to test his new action. Narine stated, “I am hoping that mid February I can do the test. I have been working hard so hopefully when that time comes I can pass the test and play for the West Indies again.”
Narine was grateful for the support he was given over the past two months. He said, “I would like to thank the coaches from Queen’s Park and the T&T coaches for helping me, the Government for taking the initiative to come out and publicly say they are helping Sunil Narine. I am really grateful and thankful.”
Narine, who has been working with English bowling coach Carl Crowe recently, admitted that the journey to return to the international level has been challenging, but is optimistic that this is the last time he will go through this ordeal. “It is hard to come back from this but I think it is a learning process and it is a process that nobody wants to go through. If you go through this you just have to take it as a stepping stone in your career. You have to make the best use of it and never let it get you down and just continue working on your game.”
He added, “Hopefully this is the last time (I am reported) and the next time I come back is for good.” The off spinner will test out his action on Saturday when he lines up for Queen’s Park in the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) 50-over competition. “Bowling in a club game will allow me to know if I am ready to go back on the big stage.”
Smith said the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs was bothered by the news when Narine was called for an illegal action. Smith said, “In November when the ban occurred we were perturbed. We had discussions with the TTCB and that was part of the discussions. We are pleased that before the World T20 they are being proactive and hopefully the situation will be rectified as soon as possible.”
Crowe, who played alongside former T&T and West Indies cricketer Phil Simmons at Leicestershire, said Narine is determined to play international cricket again. “What struck me the first time I worked with him was his work ethic. He is very diligent in his work. My specialty has been spin bowling for a number of years and we are working hard as a team together.”
Crowe will examine Narine’s new action on Saturday when Queen’s Park faces Victoria.