IN A statement to the press, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) yesterday lashed out at the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) selection panel’s decision to omit Guyanese batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul from the West Indies Cricket team ahead of their visit by the Mighty Aussies.It stated: “The President and Executive of the Guyana Cricket Board strongly denounce the ridiculous and senseless selection policies and decisions of the Clive Lloyd-led selection panel.”
“Our Board just cannot believe nor even fathom the thought process behind the wanton dropping of the most senior, reliable and dependable batsman of the West Indies for the past 21 years by the WI selectors. It is absolutely unbelievable that Shivnarine Chanderpaul has not been selected even in the squad to face one of the sternest opposition that the WI will have to face in the near future.”
“Is this the way that the selectors intend to treat our esteemed cricketers after more than two decades of service to the people of West Indies cricket and to be done by no other than Clive Lloyd who is the current Chairman of the WICB selectors? We trust that our selectors can find it within themselves to revisit this crucial matter of gross disrespect now being meted out to one of the greatest cricketers to have graced the field of play with this most ungrateful display to Chanderpaul.
Shiv’s record speaks for itself and we are shocked at the manner that this panel is seeking to destroy him.”
“We are aware that the coach had a recent discussion with Chanderpaul about his future and an appropriate exit strategy would have been worked out by all the parties. Surely it was imminent on the WICB through its esteemed selectors to have executed any such decision in a decent and fair manner with just and reasonable consideration for the wishes of Chanderpaul. That is the least we would have expected.”
“The GCB is on record as having nominated Lloyd for the presidency of the WICB a few years ago even though Lloyd headed an IMC created by the previous Government aimed at replacing the GCB. Further, the GCB Directors again boldly supported Lloyd last year for the Chairmanship of the WI selectors. The GCB is not asking for any repayment or quid pro quo but for decency, fair play and professionalism be exhibited by the selection panel.”
Finally, the Board briefly touched on the issue of the non-selection of two more Guyanese cricketers to the President’s XI team which will oppose the Australians in a three-day warm-up match prior to the first Test which begins next Wednesday, June 3.
It said: ‘The Board would like to record its extreme disappointment also over the non-selection of Narsingh Deonarine and Assad Fudadin in the WI President’s XI squad just after being good enough to be selected to represent WI against South Africa in South Africa.”