Sports View by Neil Kumar, Director of Sport
In the eyes of all Guyanese, it is unacceptable that the West Indies selectors have selected a touring squad for the upcoming ODIs against England and not a single Guyanese is included. Guyana and West Indies batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, is the number one Test batsman in the world. At age 39, India’s Sachin Tendulkar is a major part of India’s ODI team. Several players around the world are older and less fit than Chanderpaul and they are representing their respective countries at the international level.
It is imperative that all Guyanese and the people of the Caribbean speak out against this blatant discrimination against Guyanese cricketers. The West Indies squad selected to play in England in the three limited over matches is a blatant manifestation of insularity. Further, Ottis Gibson must be held accountable for his unjustifiably derogatory utterances regarding Chanderpaul and Narsingh Deonarine.
It is indeed heartening to see Chris Gayle back and many are of the opinion that Chanderpaul is the perfect foil as opening partner for the big-hitter.
Furthermore, none of the batsmen selected for this West Indian squad have proven themselves equal to Deonarine in the last Regional tournament. Deonarine scored the most runs in this year’s Regional Four-Day Tournament and he was unquestionably one of the leading spinners. Deonarine is a utility player and by virtue of his performance he should have been selected to play for both the Test and ODI team.
The selectors selected six medium-pace bowlers who ‘can bat’. Darren Sammy, Dwayne Bravo, Keiron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith and Andre Russel are all medium fast bowlers who may be considered as lower-order batsmen.
Fidel Edwards, who will most likely get injured and breakdown, and Ravi Rampaul are the only two quick bowlers. No place could be found for Jerome Taylor, who is a truly quick bowler, and who can bat in the middle-order. The selection of all these all-rounders is ludicrous. It leads one to question whether or not this team was selected merely to complement the ‘miss fit’ Sammy.
However, I must note that Sunil Narine is a genuine spinner and the team will depend heavily on him.
Johnson Charles is an unknown character who must be enjoying a close and extremely beneficial relationship with one of the musketeers on the West Indies Cricket Board.
Charles was a complete failure against the Australians at home in the Caribbean, yet he has been selected to tour England. It is difficult to think of a more blatant example of nepotism than the selection of Charles to this squad.
