WIPA protests WICB selection

The West Indies Player’s Association (WIPA) has questioned the decision to exclude Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul from the West Indies squad for the first two one-day internationals against Pakistan.

The association suggested there were factors other than “performance potential, playing conditions and preparedness” that were behind the decision and that these reasons were not explained to the players.

WIPA has filed a notice of dispute claiming that the selection process was not “fair and transparent” and was in breach of the memorandum of understanding between WIPA and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

The WICB explanation for excluding the three experienced players was in keeping with their policy to expose young players to international cricket.

WICB Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ernest Hilaire said none of the senior players had been axed permanently, and that the selectors would explain to every player how they fit into the long-term plan.

The exclusion of Gayle, Sarwan and Chanderpaul comes after a disappointing World Cup campaign for the West Indies in which none of the three batsmen scored a half century against a Test playing nation.

In a press release WIPA said that after their exclusion from the national squad, Gayle, Sarwan and Chanderpaul should not be stopped from trying to earn money by playing cricket outside the Caribbean.