Senior West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy have taken to Twitter to lambast the WICB selectors for ignoring them for the ODI tri-series involving Australia and South Africa next month
Their exclusion from the West Indies squad for the ODI tri-series involving Australia and South Africa next month despite being part of the successful World T20 team has left senior West Indies cricketers Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy angry at the selectors.
The West Indian selectors astounded cricket followers by including all-rounder Kieron Pollard in their 14-man squad for next month's tri-nation series, ending the Trinidadian's near two-year exile from the team.
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Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy, Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo celebrate the fall of an English wicket during the World T20 final. Pic/PTI
The West Indies Cricket Board selectors included off-spinner Sunil Narine for his first international tournament since he was banned last November by the International Cricket Council for an illegal bowling action.
But what surprised most was the exclusion of quartet of Gayle, Andre Russell, Bravo and Sammy, all of whom were members of the successful Twenty20 World Cup squad in India last month.
The WICB's eligibility rule requires players to make themselves available for the Regional Super50 series in January, if they are to qualify for selection to the ODI squad.
But this WICB's criteria for selection would mean both Pollard and Narine fail because the duo didn't play the West Indies' domestic 50-over competition. Pollard was injured during the Ram Slam T20 in South Africa in November last year and only regained fitness in time for IPL 9, and Narine was banned from cricket at the time after his bowling action had been declared illegal. He was cleared to bowl by the ICC only in April.
Gayle, Bravo and Sammy did not play the Nagico Super50 in January because they were playing the Big Bash League in Australia at the time.
The trio's exclusion from the ODI squad hasn't gone down well well with them and the three took to Twitter to express their anguish.
Bravo lashed out at the selectors for their 'magical' thinking. The 32-year-old was at his sarcastic best when he tweeted, "Joke of the day: WI selectors?? One minute Pollard & Narine were not good enough & now are perfect for Tri Nation series? It's like magic!"
Joke of the day: WI selectorsðu00c2u009fu00c2u0098u00c2u0082
— Dwayne DJ Bravo (@DJBravo47) May 19, 2016
One minute Pollard & Narine were not good enough & now are perfect for Tri Nation series? It's like magic!
One minute we have to be available for domestic super 50 to be selected and the next minute, it seems we don't. Magic! Get serious people!
— Dwayne DJ Bravo (@DJBravo47) May 19, 2016
Bravo, who is currently playing in the Indian Premier League for Gujarat Lions, added, "One minute we have to be available for domestic super 50 to be selected and the next minute, it seems we don't. Magic! Get serious people!"
Gayle, who has been in trouble earlier too for hitting out at the West Indian Cricket Board (WICB), also took on the selectors. He said, "@KieronPollard55 & #SunilNarine selected for WI Tri-Series. How is that possible @westindies?".
"WICB stop Sunil from playing super 50 and now they pick him. If @KieronPollard55 was fit he would've play the B Bash just like the rest of us!!" the southpaw said in another post.
WICB stop Sunil from playing super 50 and now they pick him. ðu00c2u009fu00c2u0098©ðu00c2u009fu00c2u0098u00c2u008f
— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) May 19, 2016
If @KieronPollard55 was fit he would've play the B Bash just like the rest of us!! https://t.co/Sjlt1VPjmA
— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) May 19, 2016
Sammy wondered how Pollard had made a comeback, but then suggested that the criteria for the selection seemed to be 'be injured and stay home'.
Well that's the criteria. Be injured and stay home. Then u are back in.. https://t.co/xeCur2F6Kq
— Darren Sammy (@darrensammy88) May 19, 2016
Hmmm I guess he's rolling back the years.. really happy for him tho https://t.co/F330X3MV9C
— Darren Sammy (@darrensammy88) May 19, 2016
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