West Indies batting great Brian Lara has hit out at the country’s cricket board for its “despicable” treatment of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, following the latter’s axing.Chanderpaul was excluded from the West Indies team for the home series against Australia beginning June 3, which has sparked speculation about the end of the star batsman’s career.
With 11,867 Test runs to his name Chanderpaul is, in fact, just 86 behind Lara’s tally, but the former Derbyshire man will now watch as his team-mates take to the field in Dominica next month.
Chanderpaul had a relatively average series against England recently, something that appears to have tilted the scales against him, in what is a new era under coach Phil Simmons.
However, Lara was left seething over the treatment meted out to his compatriot, and was quoted in the Trinidad Guardian as saying: “The manner in which they deal with their players is despicable and should no longer be tolerated.
“When you look back to so many of our heroes and the manner in which they were dumped, it makes you shudder.
“This has absolutely nothing to do with runs or numbers. It has to do with respect and Chanderpaul has earned the right to say goodbye in an acceptable way. In fact, he should be allowed to do it in his own way.”
Lara, considered one of the best batsmen in the history of the game, bowed out of the international game during his home World Cup in 2007, and called upon the WICB to offer a similar farewell for Chanderpaul.
“In that way, there will be no hostility and whether he makes a double century or a duck, it doesn’t matter, it will be his farewell series and the entire cricketing world will know that,” the 46-year-old said.
“He deserves it. The WICB and the Caribbean owe it to Shiv to send him off with dignity and respect. He has earned it.”(PA Sport)
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