GEORGETOWN – West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan has dismissed as “crap” the reasons given by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) for his non-selection for next month’s Caribbean Twenty20 Championship.
The 31-year-old right-hander was left out of a Guyana 14-man squad announced Monday for the January 9 to 23 tournament, scheduled for Antigua and Barbados.
“I was made to understand via a media release by the GCB dated the 6th December, 2011, that my non-selection for the upcoming T20 tournament was based on my injury that I have had over the past four months and they (selectors) are not sure about my injury status,” Sarwan said.
“First of all, I would like to make it crystal clear that I have recovered from my injury and I am working on my match fitness. In regards to the board being unsure about my recent injury, I say that is total crap.
“I had spoken to the president of the board (Ramsey Ali) and informed him about the status of my injury. I had also spoken to the chairman of selectors Mr Reyon Griffith and so from that point of view they were well informed.”
He added: “I also mentioned to Mr Griffith I was going to Canada for one week to sort out my personal business and I would arrive in Guyana on the 12th December 2011.”
In a statement explaining Sarwan’s non-selection, the GCB said it was “unsure about the injury issues” surrounding the player and also said that Sarwan had not played in the domestic T20 tournament that was used to pick the CT20 squad.
But Sarwan, who is currently in Canada, accused the GCB of inconsistency, noting that it had departed from a precedent that had been set for the Super50 One-Day series back in October.
“I just want to refresh their memory. It was my word they took when I withdrew from the 50-over tournament,” Sarwan contended.
“The (GCB) president said to me via a phone conversation that they couldn’t take my word on the update on my injury; well I wonder whose word they took when I withdrew from the team. It was my word they took because I had my team at heart and I was being honest.”
He continued: “I also noticed in the release, my non-selection had to do with my non-participation in the recently concluded T20 tournament in Guyana. Let me refresh your memories. When I was named in the 14 to represent Guyana in the 50-over tournament I also did not play in the inter-county competition which was used to pick that team.
“Everyone knew how hard I worked with the trainers and everybody in Guyana and how much I wanted to play in the 50-over competition. I am wondering why we couldn’t go through the same process?
“I would like to know why I wasn’t given the same opportunity I was given a few months ago? What has changed Mr Griffith and Mr Ali?” (CMC)
