Did BCCI Orchestrate Sunil Narine 'Exit' from India-West Indies Series? Richards, Lloyd Feel Decision is Suspect
Sunil Narine was withdrawn from West Indies tour of India after the Kolkata Knight Riders spinner was banned from bowling in the Champions League Twenty20 final for illegal action, which simply means throwing the ball in an attempt to spin it.
The mystery around Sunil Narine's 'ouster' from the India versus West Indies series is spewing some bad blood. Was the shocking 'exit' engineered by some influential people in the ICC? Was he deliberately called for suspect bowling action during the Champions League Twenty20 so that Kolkata Knight Riders missed him in the final against Chennai Super Kings? Sunil Narine remains an interesting side story.
The first seed of suspicion that Narine has been fouled was sown by former West Indies captain and now chief selector Clive Lloyd. Having been a high-profile ICC match referee and chairman of the ICC's Cricket Committee, Lloyd would know the difference between fair and unfair bowling action. The decision to banish Narine from the Champions League and subsequently from the current bilateral series has left Lloyd stunned and bitter. So is Vivian Richards.
"He has been bowling over the years with the same sort of action. Now all of a sudden it has changed. What has changed, I don't know," Lloyd was quoted by ESPNCricinfo. "You can't just ban him from bowling just before an important tour like this and with the World Cup coming up. It destroys the individual's ability as such and I think you may end up destroying someone's career."
Lloyd is not the only man surprised. Former captain Richie Richardson was stumped by the sudden call. But since he is currently the tour manager, Richardson chose to be more diplomatic.
"We can't do nothing about that. We just have to focus on what we have to do. We were positive even without him that we can play well against India and beat India. That's the attitude we have got to adapt," Richardson said. The 124-run win in Kochi should give the West Indians more belief that Narine is not indispensable. (Narine Dangerous Even Without Faster Ball: Sammy)
"Things happen in life that you have no control over, the most important thing for you is to always pick yourself up and go forward. Sometimes when you lose a major player, other players dig deeper, somebody else comes to the fore. And that's what we want to see," Richardson said. In Narine's absence, left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn is now heading the spin attack.
Just like Lloyd, Richards has questioned the timing of banning Narine. Former Pakistan captain had echoed similar views after Saeed Ajmal was penalised for suspect action. A hurt Pakistan are currently playing against Australia in the UAE, minus Ajmal, till recently the world's leading spinner.
Richards, usually nonchalant in life, is smelling a fish. In the world of cricket politics where rich Boards like the BCCI calls the shots, Richards is unhappy that Narine is missing a crucial series just months away from the World Cup.
"In my opinion such action should have been taken some time ago and on a wider basis because these guys have been there for quite some time," Richards told ESPNCricinfo in Colombo. The former master blaster is now the technical director of the West Indies A team.
"I am not sure because West Indies are touring India, there is going to be a World Cup next year, whether all this has something to do with it, I just believe the timing has to be good. With the next World Cup around the corner this is not the correct time to take such measures," said Richards.
The ICC seems to be handing out suspensions on a war footing. On Wednesday, it hauled up Zimbabwe bowler Prosper Utseya and Bangladesh spinner Sohag Gazi for illegal action. While the 'cleaning' drive has been appreciated by former Test skippers like Ricky Ponting, Lloyd feels ICC's action seems vindictive.
Lloyd said: "I think it's wrong the way they have gone about it and I have been involved in the ICC for years and I think you cannot just ban a guy just like that. This is a guy who has played for us all over the world, not only in the West Indies. All of a sudden, this guy has got a suspect action. I am not happy, I would like to strongly say that."
He may not be around, but Sunil Narine will continue to haunt the current India versus West Indies series. Like so many cricket issues that get swept under the carpet, the Narine episode will remain just that, suspect!