Rose questions Windies players’ commitment
Published:Saturday | January 9, 2021 | 12:07 AMLennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer
Former West Indies fast bowler Franklyn Rose is disappointed that the team’s best players will not be on show on the tour of Bangladesh later this month.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) says the Windies are set to play three One-Day Internationals (ODI) and two Test matches in Chittagong and Dhaka. However, several high profile players, including both Test and ODI captains, Jason Holder and Kieron Pollard respectively, have opted out of the tour for COVID-19 concerns.
The CWI COVID-19 policy allows any player to opt out of selection for an overseas tour, only when based on the player’s safety fears or concerns. Such decisions will not impact their consideration for future selection.
Rose, who played for the West Indies in the late 1990s and early 2000s, is questioning the players’ commitment to the regional side.
‘RUBBISH’
“These same players went to England and New Zealand through the COVID situation, so all of a sudden they have fear to tour Bangladesh? That is rubbish,” he said. “They say the coronavirus is the problem, yet some of these same guys are playing in Australia as we speak. Don’t they have corona there?”
The former speedster reiterated that the players should not be choosing if and where to play, as it shows a lack of commitment to the cause, which he sees as the betterment and improvement of West Indies cricket.
“You think any of these players could look at the England, Australia, and India team and choose where to go and when not to go? I have never seen that with those teams. We need disciplined committed players and, if the board is not strong enough to handle these guys, get rid of the board as well”.
Rose is urging the selectors to pick players who are going to make long-term commitments to the West Indies cause, if the regional side is to perform over the long term and improve their stock on the international scene.
“If I were those players, I would have gone to Bangladesh, which is the weakest team in the world right now, and try to improve on my average, both batting and bowling,” he said.
The West Indies touring party is expected to arrive in Dhaka tomorrow.