SEVERAL cricket enthusiasts have weighed on the recent move by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to omit Guyana and West Indies left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul from the Australia two-Test series.The left-handed batsman, who sits a mere 86 runs away from Trinidadian Brain Lara’s record as the Caribbean’s leading run-scoring Test batsman, was not included as part of regional sides training unit last Sunday night. This has sparked outrage in some sections.
Chronicle sport sought the view of president of the Georgetown Cricket Association Roger Harper, also a former West Indies coach, who indicated that the jettison of the ‘Tiger’ is disappointing. “I think that Shiv (Shivnarine Chanderpaul) has come so close to achieving the record for the most Test runs for the West Indies but has fallen short; he’s had 2 pretty tough Test series, he hasn’t performed the way we know that he is capable of performing and I’m sure that he’d be the first to admit that he’s let himself down; by his own lofty standards,” Harper stated.
“But, I think that we’ll all agree that he’s had an outstanding Test career and will go down as one of the best batsmen to have played the game definitely for the West Indies and across the world.”
Harper took the opportunity to wish the left-hander all the best in the future.
Meanwhile, president of the Berbice Cricket Board, Anil Beharry, said that Chanderpaul should have been given the chance to chase his goal. “I am disappointed in the manner that Chanderpaul was sent off. I think to be fair to both he and the board, the board should have said to him that this series can possibly be his last depending on his performance and performance only.
This would have also given Chanderpaul the opportunity to go after whatever goal he set himself. And we all know Chanderpaul record against Australia. It is outstanding,” the BCB boss said.
“Even though the performance of the Test team was encouraging against England, we should not get carried away and think we have arrived. Let us don’t give ourselves that false sense of security. The WICB is answerable to the people and they need to operate in a more professional and transparent manner. Best luck in the future to Shiv!”
Former West Indies Test player Basil Butcher says that people ought not to disagree with the selection panel of the WICB. “The selectors picked a team and you have to accept it; they have had deliberations about Chanderpaul more than anybody else, and they made a decision because they are looking ahead.”
The former right-hander who played 44 Tests for the West Indies added that they may not see Chanderpaul as part of their programme for the future and as such may have opted to select a youngster in his place.
Former Chairman of Selectors on the West Indies Cricket Board Clyde Butts when contacted by Chronicle Sport declined to comment on the matter.
Chanderpaul, who averages just over 51 runs is now 40 and has been a guardian of the West Indies middle order for just over 20 years.