Narine must decide between club and country

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Spin bowler Sunil Narine's participation in Sunday's Indian Premier League final and presence in the West Indian squad for the first Test against New Zealand remained in the balance on Friday.

Spin bowler Sunil Narine's participation in Sunday's Indian Premier League final and presence in the West Indian squad for the first Test against New Zealand remained in the balance on Friday.

Narine will miss the West Indies Cricket Board's 1 June deadline for joining the training camp ahead of the three Tests, if the IPL finale – against the Kings XI Punjab or Chennai Super Kings – is prioritised.

"It is his decision. The cut-off date for joining the camp was moved forward from 22 May to 1 June specifically to allow those players involved in the IPL the opportunity for more matches. Anyone who is in breach won't be considered for selection," said WICB chief executive officer Michael Muirhead.

The 26-year-old Narine has enjoyed a fine stretch of form this month, gathering the second most wickets in the lucrative Twenty20 tournament, including a telling haul of four for 20 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

"This is in no way an act of defiance by Sunil. He is seeking the board's flexibility for a couple of days leeway so that he can turn out for Knight Riders on Sunday," <i>ESPNcricinfo</i> quoted Knight Riders chief executive officer Venky Mysore as saying.

"He has told us that he came to do a job and wants to see it through to its conclusion. He also wants to represent West Indies against New Zealand. You can understand the quandary that he is in."

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