Dear Editor,
My attention was drawn to an article online on the selection of a 25-man West Indian squad to tour England for a three-test series. When I perused the list, I was shocked and at the same time hopping mad when I did not see Veerasammy Permaul’s name on that list. Imagine a squad that consists of 25 players – not 15 – and Permaul can’t find himself in that team. Something is terribly wrong, nay, stinks!
Editor, what more must Permaul do to make the West Indies team? I am bitterly disappointed in our own Roger Harper who only recently in an interview said that Permaul is right up there in the pecking order to go on the tour of England. What went wrong Roger? Why the change of heart? When I look at that list, there are so many players of less ability than Permaul. What happened to your stated policy and that of the West Indies Board, that players who perform consistently at the Regional level will be rewarded with selection to the West Indies team? Has that policy been thrown out of the window? Permaul has been the number one bowler in regional cricket for the past five years. What more must he do to make the West Indies team Roger?
Editor, one thing is clear, Guyanese cricketers have always been given a raw deal over the years by various West Indies selection panels and I have no doubt this will continue into the future. I will therefore like to appeal to the Guyana Cricket Board to break away from Cricket West Indies Inc. and apply to be an ICC Associate Member. With a Guyana team consisting of Permaul, Bishoo, Motie, Bramble, Hetmyer, Paul, Johnson, Sheperd, Hemraj, Barnwell, V. Singh, Sinclair, Joseph and many other youngsters too numerous to mention, within two years Guyana can become a full-fledged member of the ICC. Please GCB, heed my plea and give more of our cricketers greater opportunities.
Yours faithfully,
Imtiaz Baccus
