BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC — Darren Sammy has been sacked as West Indies Twenty20 captain, four months after leading the region to unprecedented second T20 World Cup triumph.
In a video posted on his Facebook page yesterday, the 32-year-old said he had received a call from new chairman of selectors, Courtney Browne, informing him he would no longer lead the squad or be a member.
“I got a call yesterday morning, it was probably 30 seconds, from the chairman of selectors telling me that they’ve reviewed the captaincy of T20 and I won’t be captain anymore of the T20 team, [and] my performances have not merited selection in the … squad,” Sammy said in the video.
“That’s okay, I’ve always believed West Indies cricket is not about Darren Sammy. They are looking to the future and I wanna wish the new captain — I don’t know if it’s out yet so I won’t call any names — all the best as he looks to lead West Indies cricket and take it forward.
Only last April, Sammy was revelling in the glory of having led West Indies to the capture of the T20 World Cup in India, when they beat England by four wickets in a dramatic final in Kolkata.
Four years ago, Sammy had also created history when he oversaw the regional side’s triumph over hosts Sri Lanka, in the 2012 T20 World Cup final.
Though already axed as one-day captain and dropped from the team, Sammy said the latest development did not mean the end of his international career.
“Obviously, throughout my captaincy, winning the two World Cups with my team has been the highlight and these memories I will cherish for a long time,” the St Lucian said.
“This is not me retiring from one-day or T20, it’s just me thanking the fans and my players and the coaches I’ve worked with and WICB for … yeah, letting me lead the side for the last six years. But for now the captaincy has come to an end and thank you people.”
He added: “The direction Darren is headed, the direction God has for me is not dictated by any man so there is a more in store for Darren Sammy. I’m just embracing life everyday.”
While West Indies excelled in the recent T20 World Cup, Sammy struggled, scoring eight runs from three innings and sending down three overs and taking one wicket.
Overall, he has scored 534 runs in 50 T20 International innings at an average of 15 and strike rate of 148. He has taken 44 wickets at an economy rate of seven.
He led West Indies in 47 T20Is, pulling off 27 wins.
Sammy once also led the Test squad before being axed two years ago and dropped from the side. He subsequently retired from the format.
