Sammy not convinced with ‘selection amnesty’
Former West Indies captain Darren Sammy says the selection “amnesty” granted to the Windies T20 stars by the board (WICB) will not be enough to convince the players to choose the country over franchise teams.
Sammy, who captained the Windies to two World T20 titles and is one of the players that now plays in T20 leagues around the world, has been a big critic of the WICB since 2014 when he led a player strike on the tour of India.
The Windies though have now relaxed their strict policy of only selecting players that take part in their domestic competitions to play for the national side.
That means that Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine will all be available for West Indies in ODI cricket but Sammy still says the board is not looking after domestic cricketers.
ALSO READ: Windies could change ODI selection policy
Sammy to ESPNCricinfo: “That’s the problem. When it all started with the past CEO [Michael Muirhead] and (former) director of cricket Richard Pybus, ‘West-Indies-first policy’.
“But you say West Indies first, but the first thing you do you cut the salaries. That doesn’t work.
“You telling guys ‘don’t go and play elsewhere [where] they pay much better, stay at home,’ but the first thing you’re doing is you cut the salaries playing at home.”
The Windies did not qualify for this year’s Champions Trophy and have to go through a qualifying stage in March to get to the 2019 World Cup, which Sammy calls a low point.
But the former skipper is still optimistic about cricket in the Caribbean and still wants to see the team do well.
The now 36-year-old Sammy continued: “It’s something I spoke about. I was afraid that we would not make into the Champions Trophy, we didn’t, and now to this.
“Hopefully (captain) Jason [Holder] and his men can go down to Zimbabwe in March and get to the finals, and assure that there won’t be another ICC event without West Indies.
“But the good thing about when you hit rock bottom, you can only go up from there. Every time I hear or see West Indies play I’m always optimistic, I’ve not lost that passion that something will happen.
“We’ve shown it over the years, the glimpses where – especially the last Test series in England where they called us all sorts of names, and we have a habit when people call us names to bounce back firing.”
Latest
-
England
England will not adopt negative approach after humbling in India – Zak Crawley
England will aim to get ‘Bazball’ back on track this summer against West Indies and Pakistan.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.