THE RAMNARESH SARWAN issue is now a matter for chairman of West?Indies’ cricket selectors, Clyde Butts.
That’s according to West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Julian Hunte, who said Sarwan’s return was out of his control.
In a press conference at Kensington Oval yesterday, Hunte disclosed that Sarwan had reached out to him with a desire to play for the West Indies again, but said Butts was “charged with that particular responsibility”.
“In matters of this kind, the president and other members of the board defer to the chairman of selectors,” said Hunte, when questioned over the board’s position on Sarwan.
“In fact, he wrote to me and called me on the phone, and I have said to him in no uncertain terms on each occasion that he needs to speak with the chairman of selectors who is the person to guide him in terms of whatever problems he has.
“I know that the chairman of selectors did speak with him and the chairman says that when he got his letter he circulated it among his other selectors. [So] let’s hope that this matter is resolved [because] I cannot resolve it.”
A veteran of 87 Tests with a batting average of 40, the 32-year-old Sarwan last played for the West Indies over a year ago after struggling in successive home series against Pakistan and India in 2011.
The coaching staff and selection panel then questioned his fitness, leading to Sarwan declaring he wouldn’t make himself available for selection, then signing a contract with English county Leicestershire.
But the stylish right-hander has since recanted, writing to both Hunte and Butts to say that his contractual obligations with Leicestershire wouldn’t prevent him from returning to the regional side.
“There have been two or three forums where his name has come up,” Hunte said, of discussions involving Sarwan.
“I [even] received a letter from the minister of sport in Guyana, and I did also say to him: ‘Look, the way in which we are operating, Sarwan needs to talk with the chariman of selectors who will guide him as to how to proceed’.”
Sarwan, who has scored 15 centuries inclusive of two doubles, has had previous run-ins with management, having expressed separate cases of disappointment with both former captain Brian Lara and one-time head coach Bennett King.
He also clashed with new coach Ottis Gibson over comments made about senior players not performing at the 2011 ICC World Cup.
