West Indies Board Silent on Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard Omission
Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard's omission from the West Indies' upcoming Sri Lanka Tour has received criticism from different quarters. West Indies coach Phil Simmons was suspended after he spoke against the team selection.
West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Dave Cameron has sidestepped the controversial absence of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the team's One-Day International squad ahead of the tour of Sri Lanka. (West Indies suspend coach Phill Simmons)
Cameron stayed clear of attempting to explain why the door has been closed on the Trinidad and Tobago pair during the WICB's final Town Hall meeting.
The WICB president has, however, been quoted as telling the meeting that the decision to choose players was the responsibility of the selectors, without elaborating.
"It is sad to see the players giving up an opportunity to have a body represent them," Cameron said on Monday.
"This does not mean that those who I am hearing left, cannot speak to the board."
On Friday, West Indies head coach Phil Simmons lashed out at what he termed "too much interference from outside", as he explained the continued absence of Bravo and Pollard from the ODI side.
On Sunday, Grenada's Prime Minister Keith Mitchell described Simmons comments as "disturbing" and joined with him in condemning "any act that undermined his leadership and the discretion of the Board of Selectors to field the best team."
Bravo and Pollard have been overlooked since the West Indies tour of South Africa with critics claiming that they are being punished for their roles in the aborted tour of India last October.
West Indies selectors are yet to release the names of players on the ODI squad to play Sri Lanka next month.
Meanwhile, former West Indies Players Association (WIPA) president Dinanath Ramnarine has called on the cricketing public to speak out in defence of suspended West Indies head coach Phil Simmons after he claimed that outside interference was hampering the selection of the team's One-Day International squad.
"This is a very serious matter and has to be examined. I trust the cricketing community will give Simmons the support he needs," said Ramnarine on Monday.
"I have played under Simmons and he is the most decent, honest and fair human being you would ever come across."