By Neto Baptiste
Legendary former batsman and successful West Indies captain, Sir Vivian Richards, said that although he understands that past experiences between the board and some players may have soured the relationship somewhat, it is time for all stakeholders to come together in an effort to find a solution.
His call follows statements by coach of the senior men’s squad Phil Simmons whom, in August, said the team will have to make do with the players that are available, adding “I don’t think you should be begging people to play for their country.”
Sir Viv believes past experiences and issues with the board may weigh heavily on the decision by some senior players to opt out of representing the regional squad.
“Guys sometimes try and make that particular decision in terms of what they want to do because they don’t feel that they are represented well enough on the left, and that’s why they will move to the right so it is pretty much troublesome knowing and hearing that from the coach, which means there are issues where these matters are concerned,” he said.
“There has got to be a meeting of all the individuals who participate and that’s the board and all the individuals they may believe to be in that particular lane where they do not want to play. They have to get these guys together and come to some sort of agreement because it is not good hearing that from the coach at this point which means there are issues and lots of things need to be addressed there,” he added.
West Indies has been without a number of their more seasoned or experienced players in the shorted format of the game for some time and Simmons indicated in August that selectors will just have to look at players who make themselves available.
Jamaican all-rounder, Andre Russell, replied to Simmons’ remarks, saying that he is being “thrown under the bus.”
Sir Viv said players typically want to represent their “country” and that players must also remember that it was the regional team that helped to elevate them to international status.
“That’s always your first aim, for you to represent your country as a sports person and then, if you can move further up-field like representing the region, which is obviously the West Indies cricket team, and then expand elsewhere because if that’s what you’re looking for, then that’s the opportunity you’re looking for,” he said.
“Also, there are time when we should look at the lighter side of things where one has got to remember that it was the West Indies platform that obviously gave you an opportunity for you to expand yourself, and that without that inclusion at that particular time then where would you be, so you should have a little bit of respect for that as well,” the former player said.
Russell and Evin Lewis have not featured for the team since last year’s T20 World Cup. Russell has been unavailable while Lewis has not taken the required fitness tests to be included in the team selections.
Also, Sunil Narine, once ranked the number one spinner in the world, has not appeared in a match for the team since 2019.