FORMER Guyana and West Indies skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan is calling on the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), to make public his last medical update, following his omission from the national team for next month’s Caribbean Cup T20 cricket competition. “I was made to understand via a media release from the GCB dated the 6th December 2011, that my non-selection for the upcoming T20 tournament was based on my injury that I have had over the past four months and the selectors are not sure about my injury status.
First of all, I would like to make it crystal clear that I have recovered from my injury and I am working on my match fitness and with regard to the GCB being unsure about my recent injury, I say that is total crap,” stated Sarwan.
The 31-year-old right-hander added, “I had spoken to the president of the GCB and informed him about the status of my injury. I had also spoken to the chairman of selectors Rayon Griffith and from that point of view, they were well informed. I also mentioned to Griffith that I was going to Canada for one week to sort out my personal business and I will arrive in Guyana on the 12th December 2011.”
Looking back at the West Indies Cricket Board Super50 tournament, Sarwan said he withdrew from the team at the last moment, in the interest of the team knowing that he was not fully fit and was unable to give 150% and the GCB took his word at that time.
He is now questioning their inability to take his word, when he says he is fit and ready to wear the national cap for his country once again.
“I just want to refresh their memory. It was my word they took when I withdrew from the Super50 tournament in October.
The (GCB) president Ramsay Ali  said to me via telephone, that they couldn’t take my word on the update of my injury, so I wish to ask, whose word they took when I withdrew from the team for the Super50, It was my word they took because I had the team at heart and I was being honest.”
Touching further on his non-selection for the CT20, Sarwan said he noticed a press release saying his non-participation in the recently concluded GCB organised Carib Beer/Pepsi T20 tournament was another contributing factor.
But he was quick to point out that he was selected to the team for the Super50 (albeit pending a fitness test), even though he did not play in the tournament that was held, prior to the selection of the team.
“Let me refresh your memories, when I was named in the 14-man squad to represent Guyana in the Super50 tournament, I had not competed in the Inter-County competition which was used to pick that team, but made a half-century in the lone practice match I played.”
The chaplinesque batsman said his injury was still affecting his fielding and he did not wish to rob his team in any way and opted to not do the fitness test since even if he was fit enough to bat he would have struggled in the field and his country came first.
“I must also let you know how grateful I was to be given the best chance to represent Guyana in the Super50 competition since playing for Guyana is always an honour for me. Everyone knew how hard I worked with the trainers and everybody in Guyana knew also, how much I wanted to play in that tournament and I am wondering why we couldn’t go through the same process?
I would like to know why I wasn’t given the same opportunity I was given a few months ago and what has changed the mindset of both Mr Griffith and Mr Ali, asked Sarwan, who led Guyana to both of their Regional T20 titles in 2006 and 2010.
He has been told to make himself available for the four-day tournament which starts on February 3, but preparing for the four-day tournament would mean going into action later this month, hence his surprise at not being selected for the CT20.
“Seeing they couldn’t take my word for it, I got the experts who treated me to send an email to me which I forwarded to the GCB on the status of my injury. I think it’s important for the GCB to release that letter to the public so they can see the latest update on my injury.
After being out for so long and finally getting the green light to start playing again, it is really disappointing to know it’s not my injury that’s keeping me out now, it’s more a case of people being vindictive against me. My career of drama continues,” concluded Sarwan.