KINGSTON – New chairman of the West Indies selection panel, Clive Lloyd, is encouraging players to put country before international franchise, months ahead of an England tour of the Caribbean.
Lowly ranked West Indies are scheduled to face world number three England in a three-match Test series beginning on April 9 and ending May 5.
However, the matches are set to clash with the International Cricket Council (ICC)-approved IPL, which is held between April and June each year.
“What we are saying is that any time we have our cricket we would like you to be here,” said Lloyd.
“You must play in our cricket. And, hope the players take it on board”.
The lucrative IPL attracts several of the West Indies leading cricketers on a yearly basis.
They include opener Chris Gayle, spinner Sunil Narine, batsman Marlon Samuels, and all-rounder Dwayne Bravo who earn several times more compared with WICB retainer contracts.
“What we are asking the players to do [ahead of the England series] is to show loyalty, and that West Indies cricket comes first,” Lloyd pleaded.
“I know some people may not like how that sounds, but our cricket has got to be first.”
The West Indies are currently ranked eighth in the ICC Test rankings and will be looking to the England series to further improve their rankings. (CMC)
