SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – Former West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul believes some regional players are more interested in making money from the sport wherever they can than on representing the Caribbean.
Chanderpaul, who played for the regional side for two decades, made the comments as he suggested that the Twenty20 leagues across the world were having an impact on the West Indies team.
“There are a lot of Premier [T20] leagues around the world. West Indies cricket is not what these guys would depend on these days so I don’t think they’re as keen. They can go elsewhere and play and not focus on having to represent West Indies,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.
“Whatever comes up, the guys are happy to make as much as they can while their cricket career lasts.”
The former left-handed batsman who amassed more than 10,000 runs in Test cricket, said when he wore the maroon, he and his teammates “played for more than just money”.
“We played for pride,” added Chanderpaul who was inducted into the International Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame last week.
While he did not single out any players, big hitters like Andre Russell and Chris Gayle have been staples in T20 franchise cricket.
Chanderpaul was speaking ahead of the West Indies’ two-match series against Australia, set for November 30-December 1 in Perth, which will be preceded by a three-day warm-up game against an ACT/NSW XI at the Philip Oval, Canberra tomorrow and a four-day pink ball match against the Australia Prime Minister’s XI at the Manuka Oval, also in Canberra, beginning next Wednesday.
Chanderpaul’s son, left-handed opening batsman Tagenarine Chanderpaul was named in the squad, receiving his first Test call-up.
Given the strong opposition that the hosts are expected to put up, the young cricketer’s father said he can make his mark if he does well in the tour.
“Coming to Australia knowing the attack Australia has, these guys are relentless. If he can come here and do well it will be a start to his career,” he said.
Chanderpaul noted that the West Indies would be going up against a team that, in his view, has the best bowling attack in the world and it would not be easy.
West Indies have lost their past five series in Australia.