Latest update March 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 28, 2015 Sports
Nathan disappointed with Shiv’s treatment
By Sean Devers
Speaking on Andre Mason’s live Radio programme in Barbados on Tuesday night West Indies Cricket
Board Vice-President, Dominican Emmanuel Nathan said discarded Test batsman Guyanese Shiv Chanderpaul should have been given a better send off by being allowed to play against Australia next month.
This view was supported by Brian Lara who described the axing of Chanderpaul as shameful and called on the WICB to give the Guyanese an honorary send-off by selecting him for the two-Test series against Australia.
The 40-year-old Chanderpaul, with 11,867 runs from a record 164 Tests at an Average of 51.37 was sacked by the Clive Lloyd led selection panel after failing to reach 100 runs in his last two series against South Africa and England.
He needs another 87 runs to overtake Trinidadian Lara as the West Indian with the most Test runs while his record in home matches against Australia since 2003 is an outstanding 1045 runs at an average of 80.38.
According to Nathan the WICB selectors are duty bound to select the teams and the Directors do not have the power to make changes.
Nathan, who was re-elected in March for a second two-year term as Vice-President to Dave Cameron, confirmed that there were discussions with Lloyd during the Board’s retreat in Barbados over the weekend about Chanderpaul’s omission.
This was also confirmed by Lloyd even though Senior Communications Officer of the WICB Adriel
Richards had refuted this, giving the impression that Kaieteur Sports had fabricated the story. WICB Director Anand Sanasie also confirmed a meeting did happen.
“When we brought the matter to the Board initially, the Vice President Nanthan and I had discussions with the President who had further discussions with many Directors. The secretariat at the Board instructed that Mr Chanderpaul travel. His flight was booked and Mr Chanderpaul was expected to arrive in Barbados on (last) Sunday,” Sanasie informed.
“A further meeting of the Board was summoned and at that meeting the selectors expressed their views, and a further decision was taken not to change their decision to drop Mr Chanderpaul. Some Directors pleaded for a review. This was not granted since Mr Lloyd thought when you look at performance Chanderpaul needs to move on and was informed by the President moments before the flight that the selectors had stuck with their initial decision.
Nathan said he was disappointed with the manner in which Chanderpaul was treated after serving West Indies cricket faithfully for 21 years and backed Shiv to come back strong by producing an outstanding Regional season.
“Knowing Shiv and his passion for cricket and the determination he has I would not rule out him playing for the West Indies again,” continued Nathan. This however, seems unlikely unless the selectors are changed.
The two-year term of Lloyd, who played Test cricket when he was over 40, ends next year.
“Chanderpaul scored the first Test century in Dominica when he made an unbeaten 116 against India in 2011 and he is a National Hero here and very much loved in Dominica. His fans were eagerly looking forward to seeing him bat against the Australians and were preparing to give him a fantastic send-off. When (Sachin) Tendulkar was leaving cricket Lloyd was a part of the WICB team which traveled to India to bid him farewell,” Nathan disclosed.
Now Head Coach, Phil Simmons, who was dropped for Chanderpaul to make his debut in 1994 at Bourda, told Chanderpaul it was better for him to retire than be dropped but going against Lloyd’s policy, invited the IPL players including his nephew back into West Indies cricket.
Many Guyanese, commenting on social media, share the view that the dropping of Shiv was not for only cricketing reasons, but rather an effort to protect Lara’s record by forcing Chanderpaul into retirement.
“I would support such opinions because if someone would have played for 21 years and you want him to go off and you know he would have played five Test matches in the Caribbean, at the start of the England tour, I would assume that you should have told him listen ‘you’ve served us for a long time; at the end of this tour we’re considering not selecting you.’ This was not done, and it was admitted by the Selection Panel and the Coach in our meetings in Barbados. Given the strong feelings of the selectors, I do not know what to believe, because I could think that there is more to this than performance,” Sanasie opined.
Listen to the man that is throwing Guyanese bright future away
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