Windies chairman of selectors responds to Prime Minister Gonsalves

Windies chairman of selectors responds to Prime Minister Gonsalves

WEST Indies Cricket Board’s Chairman of Selectors Courtney Browne has responded to a letter from Prime Minister of St Vincent and Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, accusing him of meting out ‘shabby treatment’ to former West Indies T20 captain and two-time T20 World Cup winner Darren Sammy.Sammy, who won the ICC T20 World Cup in India in April, announced on his Facebook page last week that he received a 30-second phone call from Browne informing him that he was being sacked as West Indies captain and that his general performance did not merit his selection to the team.
“I find this shabby treatment of Mr Sammy to be unacceptable. Indeed I am sure that all right-thinking persons are extremely dissatisfied at your unceremonious and summary dismissal of Mr Sammy as captain and player,” Dr Gonsalves stated in the letter dated August 10, 2016.
“You simply cannot treat a former captain of the West Indies cricket team and a success of two World Cup T-20 championships with such disdain.”
Dr Gonsalves also questioned the timing of Sammy’s dismissal which came just prior to the start of the third Test being played at the recently renamed Darren Sammy National Stadium between the West Indies and India.
The Prime Minister called on Browne to make amends, suggesting that he and the president of the West Indies Cricket Board Dave Cameron apologise to Darren Sammy and the people of the Caribbean for their handling of the matter.
However, Browne in a measured response, acknowledged that Sammy had indeed served the West Indies well, but indicated that as the West Indies looked to the future, the former captain’s form was not up to par.
“As we look forward to the next World Cup and begin to develop a team to our defence of the title, the selectors had to assess the suitability of the captain to take the team forward. The fact is Mr Sammy’s personal performance as a bowling all-rounder has been lagging for a year.”
He highlighted that the West Indies captain has, in 11 matches, only bowled 10 overs between January 2015 and April 2016 and has a batting average of 10.20 runs per innings for the same period.
“The captain of any West Indies team must have solid performances and Mr Sammy did not meet such a standard, and therefore could not make the squad of 13 as a player at this time,” Browne said.
Browne also denied having a 30-second conversation with Sammy, but revealed that he had made several efforts to get in touch with the player and finally reached him to convey the selectors’ recommendation.
Browne stated that it was Mr Sammy who broke the news of his removal on social media before the Board met to review the recommendation and make a final decision.
Dr Gonsalves also recommended, in his letter, that the Board appoint Sammy to assist in the team’s preparation for the matches coming up against India on August 27 and 28 in Florida and that he be “accorded a role in shaping and massaging the transition to the new leadership and in facilitating renewal.”
The chairman of selectors responded saying that such roles would suggest that Sammy’s international career had ended.
“The role would suggest that Mr Sammy had retired from T20 cricket and we have received no such official notification,” Browne stated.
“I would urge Mr Sammy to take advantage of the regional competitions and put in strong performances and attempt to regain his position in the One Day International and T20 teams. Note, many cricketers and even great cricketers, have been dropped, have reestablished themselves, and have returned to West Indies teams.” (Sportsmax.com)