Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Darren Bravo and Andre Russell prefer PSL over WC19 Qualifiers

[MenInG]

From the WICB:

Commenting on the Squad, Chairman Courtney Browne said:

“We are pleased to announce a squad that has a combination of experience and youth. Given the importance of the West Indies qualifying for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, we thought it was important that we chose players who brought not only skills but experience to the table, combined with younger players who had performed creditably on the international scene.

We contacted some of our well-known senior cricketers to ascertain their availability for the tournament and we are pleased that Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels have indicated their full support and commitment to the cause. Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Darren Bravo and Andre Russell however indicated that they were unavailable to help us qualify as their priority was playing in the Pakistan Super League.

Dwayne Bravo was not contacted as he had indicated previously that he is no longer available to play cricket for the West Indies.

We welcome back Carlos Braithwaite and value his contribution to the team on and off the field. Kemar Roach is a highly experienced player who recently returned to international cricket last year is also a good addition to our ODI squad, as we set out to win the ICC World Cup Qualifiers.

We expect this squad under the able leadership of Jason Holder, supported by a core group of senior players to achieve this goal. Of course, Head Coach Stuart Law and his staff will provide all the support and guidance necessary. We wish the team well and look forward to a successful campaign.”

 

[JattMaula]

Has PSL successfully destroyed international cricket?

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Has PSL successfully destroyed international cricket?

No. IPL did that years ago.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

I know Gayle was not picked by any PSL team this year, but is it the same for Samuels too? IIRC, he was in Peshawar Zalmi.

 

[introvert]

Russell & narine already secured million dollar ipl contract from KKR Still they choosed psl over qualifiers.

 

[shah_1]

WICB and other boards have made sure there is no international cricket played during IPL so these cricketers can earn million of dollar from IPL but they are still greedy to earn extra buck. Shame on these cricketers and I hope they are discarded for good.

 

[hadi123]

Disgraceful. Representing your country is a great honor and they choose leagues over it. Idc that's it the PSL as the players don't care which leagues they are playing in. Even if it was IPL, BBL, BPL etc I would still feel the same. Patriotism is dead

 

[Hedz]

As much as I love PSL, such a move is sad to see
Shows the probable future where international cricket is snubbed for league cricket

Massive PSL Fan, but if the players left to play for their national side I would have absolutely no issue with that

 

[Aman]

Disgusting.

I love that dig by WICB though, rightfully outing the mercerneries.

Respect to Gayle and Marlon Samuels.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Disgraceful. Representing your country is a great honor and they choose leagues over it. Idc that's it the PSL as the players don't care which leagues they are playing in. Even if it was IPL, BBL, BPL etc I would still feel the same. Patriotism is dead

It's not their country, though reminding people of this over the years seems to fail. All these guys would be playing if it was their country, and in fact their national leaders support them in their struggles with corrupt WICB.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

As much as I love PSL, such a move is sad to see
Shows the probable future where international cricket is snubbed for league cricket

Massive PSL Fan, but if the players left to play for their national side I would have absolutely no issue with that

Can we pin something somewhere pointing out to ignorant posters that

WEST INDIES IS NOT A COUNTRY
WEST INDIES IS NOT A COUNTRY
WEST INDIES IS NOT A COUNTRY
WEST INDIES IS NOT A COUNTRY

 

[shokz1408]

I don't think that's right, not playing for windies to qualify for the world cup, instead preferring psl... I want big players in the psl but not at the expense of windies possibly not qualifying for the WC..

 

[Major]

WICB and other boards have made sure there is no international cricket played during IPL so these cricketers can earn million of dollar from IPL but they are still greedy to earn extra buck. Shame on these cricketers and I hope they are discarded for good.

money>patriotism... rationality
money<patriotism.. irrationality
..

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Sad.

Very sad. These people should never return to WI.

Money runs the world.

 

[Major]

Sad.

Very sad. These people should never return to WI.

Money runs the world.

lol why not?

when the supply for cricketers would be less, they would be contacted back dont worry.

they made a rational decision, nothing wrong.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

lol why not?

when the supply for cricketers would be less, they would be contacted back dont worry.

they made a rational decision, nothing wrong.

From rational POV this can be considered but then it is sad that people are (blatantly) putting a tamasha league over their country.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

From rational POV this can be considered but then it is sad that people are (blatantly) putting a tamasha league over their country.

Please read my post above.

IT IS NOT THEIR COUNTRY.

And it's relevant because these guys are patriots who wouldn't put their country second.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

money>patriotism... rationality
money<patriotism.. irrationality
..

BOSS West Indies is not a country!!!

 

[shah_1]

money>patriotism... rationality
money<patriotism.. irrationality
..

The WICB board is not playing any international cricket during IPL. These cricketers are earning millions of dollars in that league.

I don't see any rationality but pure greed to earn extra buck.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

As much as I love PSL, such a move is sad to see
Shows the probable future where international cricket is snubbed for league cricket

Massive PSL Fan, but if the players left to play for their national side I would have absolutely no issue with that

Completely agreed.Sad that there is a possiblity of WI not qualifying for the WC and not playing their best XI

 

[Last Monetarist]

This is mere hyperbole. Pollard and Narine haven't played ODIs for more than a year, Russell has been out of cricket due to a doping ban, while Darren Bravo has not been selected for the West Indies since his twitter spat with Dave Cameron. None of them hold guaranteed positions in the squad and therefore are absolutely justified in choosing the PSL.

 

[someone21]

West Indies itself arent a country. Its really just like a club as well. So stop this patriotic nonsense.

 

[aloo paratha]

Disgusting. Players should always be playing for their nation over T20 leagues.

 

[ahmadharis1]

Don't mind the decision. The player's first responsibility is to take care of themselves and they are not obligated to represent their country. It's totally their call

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Disgusting. Players should always be playing for their nation over T20 leagues.

Jesus Christ, does no one read the thread or even know basic facts?

West Indies is not a country.

 

[aloo paratha]

Jesus Christ, does no one read the thread or even know basic facts?

West Indies is not a country.

That was a general statement, it can be applied to anybody, such as Joe Root playing IPL over the tri series. Use your brain.

I know WI isn't a country, but I'm not gonna say "he should be playing for the group of countries which also includes his", because I know people will understand what am saying, or so I had hoped.

Stop trying to be too smart on this thread

 

[CricketAnalyst]

That was a general statement, it can be applied to anybody, such as Joe Root playing IPL over the tri series. Use your brain.

I know WI isn't a country, but I'm not gonna say "he should be playing for the group of countries which also includes his", because I know people will understand what am saying, or so I had hoped.

Stop trying to be too smart on this thread

It's not the same thing.

I would do a lot for India that I wouldn't do for 'Asian confederation.

And I daresay the same is true of Pakistanis as well.

Loyalty to nation is not transferable to a random cricket board.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

If the WI were split into the respective island nations these guys WOULD play and also would be treated properly by their nation boards as to WICB.

 

[Savak]

To be honest i dont blame the players, the West Indies Cricket board treats their players like crap. Look at what they did to Darren Sammy the T-20 WC Winner 2 times in a row. How can you blame a West Indies player for not being keen on playing for the West Indies? They know that they can easily fall out of favor with the WICB at any time, these T-20 leagues give them a solid financial future atleast.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

To be honest i dont blame the players, the West Indies Cricket board treats their players like crap. Look at what they did to Darren Sammy the T-20 WC Winner 2 times in a row. How can you blame a West Indies player for not being keen on playing for the West Indies? They know that they can easily fall out of favor with the WICB at any time, these T-20 leagues give them a solid financial future atleast.

Sammy's country named their stadium after him. WICB fired him. His being a T20 mercenary has literally nothing to do with patriotism.

 

[UN talkz]

Disgusting.

I love that dig by WICB though, rightfully outing the mercerneries.

Respect to Gayle and Marlon Samuels.

If Gayle and Marlon had got PSL contract, they would have also skipped Qualifiers.. Marlon Samuels choosed to skip England series becoz of PSL

 

[Oxfordchamp]

Won't be surprised if they skip psl after playing in the Ipl...

 

[KingKhanWC]

In an ideal world no player should choose any T20 league over their International team but WICB are a bunch of clowns who have ruined Windies cricket and ruined players. I think this is the reason why many players do not care to help such a board out and who can blame them.

 

[hadi123]

That was a general statement, it can be applied to anybody, such as Joe Root playing IPL over the tri series. Use your brain.

I know WI isn't a country, but I'm not gonna say "he should be playing for the group of countries which also includes his", because I know people will understand what am saying, or so I had hoped.

Stop trying to be too smart on this thread

Agree with you. West Indies play INTERNATIONAL cricket so therefore in this case it's easier to refer to them as a country and posters should know what we mean. Seems like he/she is taking things too literally and trying to be smart when in reality, it's petty. Anyway, I wonder if West Indies do make the actual World Cup, if these players will be considered for the selection then.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Agree with you. West Indies play INTERNATIONAL cricket so therefore in this case it's easier to refer to them as a country and posters should know what we mean. Seems like he/she is taking things too literally and trying to be smart when in reality, it's petty. Anyway, I wonder if West Indies do make the actual World Cup, if these players will be considered for the selection then.

It's not about that.

Patriotic sentiment doesn't transfer to anything except your country.

WICB fired Sammy after they won the WC. His actual country named their national stadium after him.

There is a clear as light difference. These people are not doing anything unpatriotic when they put themselves over WICB.

In fact, the national leaders themselves despise WICB.

How would you (or any Pakistan cricketer) feel if all of the sub-continent had a common team, of "Indian Republics" and a board based in New Delhi ran their cricket?

If you actually thought about this, then you might understand how some of these cricketers feel.

 

[Sachin136]

Some odd comments in this thread. If you expect them to be patriotic and choose representing their country in a sport over money, then why aren't you all in the army or politics?

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Some odd comments in this thread. If you expect them to be patriotic and choose representing their country in a sport over money, then why aren't you all in the army or politics?

Forget that!

How can you expect someone to feel patriotic about an organization that isn't their country in the first place? It's absolutely astonishing.

 

[hadi123]

It's not about that.

Patriotic sentiment doesn't transfer to anything except your country.

WICB fired Sammy after they won the WC. His actual country named their national stadium after him.

There is a clear as light difference. These people are not doing anything unpatriotic when they put themselves over WICB.

In fact, the national leaders themselves despise WICB.

How would you (or any Pakistan cricketer) feel if all of the sub-continent had a common team, of "Indian Republics" and a board based in New Delhi ran their cricket?

If you actually thought about this, then you might understand how some of these cricketers feel.

So are you saying that Narine and Pollard would play for Trinidad but not West Indies? Andre Russell would play for Jamaica and not West Indies? Come on. Because they don't have International Cricket teams, West Indies is their country.

 

[Bangladesh_Fan]

These guys have been earning millions of bucks from IPL, CPL , BPL etc. throughout the years yet still they need the PSL over a chance of playing in the cricket world cup. They can't even spare a few weeks to be in the qualifiers . West Indies may not be a country but their country is part of the West Indies team.

Absolutely Disgraceful

 

[CricketAnalyst]

So are you saying that Narine and Pollard would play for Trinidad but not West Indies? Andre Russell would play for Jamaica and not West Indies? Come on. Because they don't have International Cricket teams, West Indies is their country.

Absolutely. In fact Pollard has literally said this (that for him Trinidad is 1st, Mumbai Indians 2nd and West Indies last. And that's not how it actually works for human beings. I doubt even 1% of Pakistanis here would feel the same way about some combined South Asia team as they would about Pakistan.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

There are fierce rivalries between these Islands. If you personally wouldn't feel loyalty towards a combined India-Pak-Bangaldesh side, it's hypocritical in the extreme to expect these guys to care about WI.

 

[hadi123]

Absolutely. In fact Pollard has literally said this (that for him Trinidad is 1st, Mumbai Indians 2nd and West Indies last. And that's not how it actually works for human beings. I doubt even 1% of Pakistanis here would feel the same way about some combined South Asia team as they would about Pakistan.

Well yes they wouldn't care about an Asian XI. But that's because there is already a Pakistan team, which is their international nation!

 

[light]

Man, this is pathetic. I mean, don't you want to play in the WC? I can forsee both IRE and AFG beating them. Help out your team instead of playing T20 leagues around the world. You may say, its not their country but they are here because they represented their country by playing for WI, not because of T20 leagues.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

BOSS West Indies is not a country!!!

Everyone knows that. It wasn't a country back in 80's either when they were dominating and beating sides left, right and center.

 

[Hedz]

Can we pin something somewhere pointing out to ignorant posters that

WEST INDIES IS NOT A COUNTRY
WEST INDIES IS NOT A COUNTRY
WEST INDIES IS NOT A COUNTRY
WEST INDIES IS NOT A COUNTRY

You get our point though
No need to get angry

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Well yes they wouldn't care about an Asian XI. But that's because there is already a Pakistan team, which is their international nation!

And even if there wasn't a Pakistan team, your players would not put some combined Asian XI as giving some patriotic sentiment and put it over their careers.

These guys simply don't get to represent their nations. Full stop. Playing for WICB is not a substitute.

 

[shujaatraza]

I remember Pollard and Narine played for their IPL teams rather than their country during the now defunct Champions League..
This is for all those saying WI is not a country..

 

[hadi123]

And even if there wasn't a Pakistan team, your players would not put some combined Asian XI as giving some patriotic sentiment and put it over their careers.

These guys simply don't get to represent their nations. Full stop. Playing for WICB is not a substitute.

Well actually even in the Champions League, I think they chose IPL teams over their domestic teams such as Trinidad etc so that shows you how loyal they are.

 

[Abdullah719]

Andy Roberts slams quartet for opting out of Windies team

(Barbados Nation) Enough is enough.

One of the greats of the champion West Indies teams of yesteryear says he will never again pick four Caribbean cricketers who have made themselves unavailable for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Sir Andy Roberts, a member of Clive Lloyd’s fearsome fast bowling brigade in the late 1970s and early 1980s when West Indies were the undisputed world champions, has chastised global Twenty20 specialists Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Darren Bravo and Andre Russell for opting to turn out in the Pakistan Super League at the same time the regional side will be aiming the qualify for the 2019 World Cup in England.

Speaking to the WEEKEND NATION from Antigua yesterday after Cricket West Indies announced a 15-man squad for the qualifiers in Zimbabwe from March 4 to 25, the former team coach and chief selector said if he had a say in the matter, he would not grant No-Objection Certificates to the four players for the Pakistan Super League, which is scheduled from February 22 to March 25.

“We cannot be in a more desperate position than we are in now. What we need to do is to qualify. Go and help us qualify and then you do what you want after that. Pave the way for somebody else coming after you. If they say no, as far as I am concerned, that would be it. If all of our top guys decide they are not going, I would not pick them again,” Sir Andy said.

https://www.stabroeknews.com/2018/s...slams-quartet-for-opting-out-of-windies-team/

 

[CadPakFan]

Very sad, hopefully they get the right criticism and no one chooses to follow in their footsteps.

 

[MenInG]

Windies all-rounder Kieron Pollard has said that the Cricket Winides’ chairman and the board’s behaviour since amnesty has made it very clear to them that CWI had no interest in picking them for the World Cup qualifiers.

Courtney Browne, the chairman of selectors, had recently said that Pollard, Sunil Narine, Darren Bravo and Andre Russell had all opted out of the qualifiers as “their priority was playing in the Pakistan Super League.”

Pollard, however, accused CWI of poor communication and sending him mixed messages regarding his West Indies future.


Kieron Pollard says there are two many mixed signals and too much poor communication from the selectors.
The all-rounder said he was perplexed that CWI sought out players to play in the qualifiers only in January, which was some time after he had secured his Big Bash League and Pakistan Super League contracts.

“Despite performing well in the 2016 tri-series, when I was handed a recall, where [the] team got to final, for the next series in Dubai Denesh Ramdin and I were dropped, with selectors saying I showed no ‘commitment to batting’,” Pollard told Cricbuzz.

“Now, after only playing two of the 11 West Indies ODI series since 2015 World Cup, suddenly after months of either zero or limited communication about my ODI future, you (selectors) want me to drop everything and play qualifiers.”

“These are the ridiculous situations they consistently put players in, then they go to media with the clear attempt to paint us as money hungry mercenaries and (say that we are) not committed to West Indies cricket.”

Pollard highlighted the muddled squad selections for both the England and New Zealand tours as evidence of the aforementioned point.

“When the selectors picked that team in England, while Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels were recalled, the Bravo brothers and Narine were contacted about playing – I wasn’t,” he continued. “I was told initially that they were not going to pick me for the T20 game and that only captain Carlos Brathwaite would be flown in.”

This, Pollard noted, left him confused about his future and he began to deliberate his next course of action.

Pollard said he sought out the chairman of selectors to try and identify what path was laid out before him. He wanted to know if he was in CWI’s ODI and T20I plans, or if he was free to play T20 league cricket outside.

“I told the chairman I am a grown man and have decisions to make. I wasn’t demanding that he pick me, just wanted clarity on if I can now seek to play T20 leagues freely and not expect to be picked. And, whether there were different rules for players in this amnesty,” said Pollard.

“Suddenly after that two months of poor communication, the board changed its mind and said they are picking T20 players for England and Browne said in his conversation with the other selectors that I was now ‘available’ for 50-over and T20 selection for the series in New Zealand.

“This indecision was one of the reasons Samuel Badree didn’t play and went to Pakistan with the World XI. That’s the madness that goes on behind the scenes which people don’t know about.”

Despite all the drama, Pollard, like most senior players, was waiting to see what would happen with the new contracts and tentatively began making plans with Trinidad & Tobago to play in the Super50 and first-class cricket.

However, this plan too did not come to fruition.

“Remember, selectors said I was ‘available’, but I was in the end only picked in T20Is. At this point, my PSL contract was secured and while it was known by then West Indies would be in qualifiers, no dates were set.

“So, I contacted the Trinidad coach and told him of my early plan to play some part in the Super50 and the four-day games. At that stage, I was not approached by Big Bash until Narine pulled out,” Pollard explained.

“I pulled out of New Zealand series due to personal reasons which needed my attention in Trinidad, then the Big Bash deal came.

“I was also observing the Darren Bravo selection madness where CWI said it has a policy where Super50 players can only be replaced in squads if they are being called up for West Indies duty.

“Based on that I told coach Kelvin Williams to not disadvantage the team, and scrap the plan for me to play,” Pollard recalled.

The 30-year-old also revealed how Browne only gave the players four days (January 3 – January 7) to confirm their availability for the qualifiers. He found it ridiculous given how CWI had known of his plans since September.

“All I said was I can’t play Super50. This clearly ruled me out of being chosen for the qualifiers. But, two weeks later (there were) big headlines questioning our commitment,” added Pollard.

“He (Browne) didn’t say ‘you can’t play full Super50, fine, let’s talk about maybe playing a few games. You are making a dollar there, (but) we need you for qualifiers here. Make a suggestion.

“But no, these guys want to use the cricketers, pick and drop us when they want. My choice to get all these (T20 Leagues) contracts was a meticulous process for [the] last six months in response to the board’s communication or lack thereof.”

Pollard concluded by noting the precedent was set by the board when they clashed with players during the early days of the IPL. That, he felt, has snowballed into the standoff now.

“When we players saw immediately that IPL was going to blow up in 2008, all we asked for [was] one window the play in it and they fought us. Only recently West Indies stopped playing home season internationals during IPL months, while most boards did so long ago.

“Now you have eight or nine leagues, it would have been easier for us to compromise if that was done initially with the IPL. That’s the poor vision of the West Indies board in the last decade.

“So how can Caribbean people sit on their computers and phones and say and believe we are not committed to West Indies given all that board has done?”

https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2018/01/30/pollard-puts-his-case/