Powell, Hope named new WI white-ball Captains

Cricket West Indies (CWI) today announced Shai Hope as the new captain of the West Indies Men’s One-Day International (ODI) team and Rovman Powell as the new captain of the West Indies Men’s T20 International (T20I) team.

Shai Hope is the new West Indian ODI skipper

Hope, the wicketkeeper/batter and Powell, the batting allrounder, and will take over from Nicholas Pooran, who stepped down from the positions last November following the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

The first assignments for both captains will be the upcoming tour of South Africa in March where the West Indies face the Proteas in three ODIs and three T20Is from 16 to 28 March, following two matches in the ICC World Test Championship. Each captain will be heavily involved in strategy and planning leading up to the next ICC World Tournaments. In ODI cricket, the West Indies are likely to need to qualify for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, with the qualifiers scheduled to be held in Zimbabwe in June. In T20I cricket, the West Indies will be hosting the next ICC T20 World Cup with the USA in June 2024.

Hope is selected as ODI captain after demonstrating strong leadership on and off the field and experiencing the vice-captain role over a number of Series since 2019. He became vice-captain for a second time in June 2022 and played his 100th ODI for the West Indies against India in July last year. Hope has played 104 ODIs and was recently selected in the ICC ODI Team of the Year for 2022.

Hope said: “It is a tremendous honour and privilege to be appointed captain of any West Indies team. To lead a team that is of such incredible significance not only to myself and my teammates but to our legion of fans the world over, is something one dreams of as a child. The rich history and legacy that our region and our brand of cricket is so famous and loved for, requires no intricate explanation. I would like to thank CWI for entrusting me with this immense opportunity. To navigate West Indies cricket in the right direction will be my fundamental priority and a task that I shall be unwaveringly committed to. With the support of my team-mates and our dedicated fans, I look forward to a long and fulfilling tenure as captain of the West Indies One-Day International team.”

CWI’s Selection Panel recommended Powell as T20I captain, referencing his demonstrated leadership acumen and tactical ability when acting as the West Indies T20I vice-captain and as captain for Jamaica in 2022 with double success in both regional competitions. He led Jamaica winning firstly the Caribbean Premier League with the Tallawahs in September before captaining the Jamaica Scorpions to the CG United Super50 Cup title in November.

Powell said: I’m truly humbled and grateful to be given this amazing opportunity to lead the West Indies. For me, this a huge vote of confidence and I see this as the greatest honour of my career. To be asked to ‘carry the flag’ for the people of the Caribbean, there’s no bigger role in cricket in the region — a job previously held by some of the greatest servants of West Indies cricket. I also want to thank CWI for allowing me to guide the team in the coming years as we set sights on the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which we will be jointly hosting with the USA next year. I’m a passionate cricketer who believes in leading from the front and always giving 100 percent. “

Match schedule in South Africa

21 to 24 February: vs South Africa Invitational XI at Willowmoore Park, Benoni

28 February to 4 March: 1st Test at SuperSport Park, Centurion

8-12 March: 2nd Test at the Wanderers, Johannesburg

Thursday, 16 March: 1st ODI at Buffalo Park, East London (day/night)

Saturday, 18 March: 2nd ODI at Buffalo Park, East London (day/night)

Tuesday, 21 March: 3rd ODI at JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom

Saturday, 25 March: 1st T20Is at SuperSport Park, Centurion

Sunday, 26 March: 2nd T20I at SuperSport Park, Centurion

Tuesday, 28 March: 3rd T20I at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg (night)

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Harpy Eagles Practice Match 2: Nandu & Motie performances highlight day 1

With play set to resume today, a patient half-century from young opening batsman Matthew Nandu and miserly figures of 3/8 (8.4 Overs) from Gudakesh Motie highlighted day one of the 2nd Guyana Harpy Eagles practice match at the Providence National Stadium.

Earlier yesterday, Tevin Imlach’s XI won the toss and elected to take first strike against the Gudakesh Motie XI. Nandu along with veteran Chandrapaul Hemraj got Imlach’s XI off to a flyer. Hemraj was the aggressor racing to 46 from 36 deliveries before he got out with the score at 72. From there on out, wickets fell at regular intervals as Imlach (11) and Kevlon Anderson (5) both came and went. The returning Leon Johnson joined Nandu and together they guided their side from 90/3 to 140 before Nandu fell for a well composed 50 courtesy of Ronaldo Mohamed-Ali.

Johnson (25) along with Akshaya Persaud (22) and Shamar Yearwood (37) were the only other batsmen to get scores worthy of note as all the others fell cheaply.

For the bowling side, Motie led from the front as the chief destroyer and was well supported by spinners Junior Sinclair (2/33) and Richie Looknauth (2/29) while Ashmeade Nedd, Mohamed-Ali and Nial Smith took a wicket apiece.

In response at stumps, Motie’s XI was trailing by 180 runs on 46/2 having lost opener Rampertab Ramnauth (24) and night watchman Ronsford Beaton (4). When play resumes today, Tagenarine Chanderpaul (12 not out) and Mavindra Dindyal (6 not out) will resume the innings.

Day 1: Imlach XI won the toss & elected to bat

Scores: Imlach XI 1st Innings- 226 All Out (Nandu 50, Motie 3/8)

(Close of Play) Gudakesh Motie X1: 46 for 2 (12 overs) trail by 180 runs

AUS vs SA: Warner’s 100th Test double century puts SA to the sword on day 2

Australia 386 for 3 (Head 48, Carey 9) lead South Africa 189 by 197 runs

An epic David Warner innings in his milestone match. A 239-run partnership with Steven Smith, who brought up 1,000 runs at the MCG A scoring rate of 4.3 runs per over in the day, which peaked at 5.54 in the final session, in temperatures that touched 40 degrees. This was Australia’s day.

They seized control of the Melbourne Test and the series and are on track to beat South Africa at home for the first time since the 2005-06 summer.

Before the Test, amid questions over his long-format future, Warner promised to return to his old self and take on the bowling and he stayed true to his word. From his opening runs on the second day – a square cut off Kagiso Rabada’s first ball – to his final runs when an edge flew wide of slip and brought up his 200, Warner took the fight to South Africa. He became the second batter to score a double hundred in his 100th Test after Joe Root in a display of extreme determination, strong strokeplay and incredible fitness.

In a minute less than six hours at the crease, Warner ran 63 singles, 14 twos, seven threes and three fours, in addition to the 16 fours and two sixes he hit. No South African bowler was spared but Warner asserted his authority over their spearhead Rabada with such assurance, it would not have given the rest much confidence. He scored 57 runs off the 60 balls he faced from Rabada and 72 off 81 from Keshav Maharaj.

On a track that flattened out beautifully for batting, South Africa’s attack were never in the contest and may have some stern words for their line-up, who wasted the opportunity on the first day. Anrich Nortje was the most impressive of an energy-sapped pack and kept his pace above 150kph consistently. His fastest ball was clocked at 155kph. He was also the only one to enjoy some reward, when Smith upper cut a short ball to gully. By then, most of the damage was done.

Smith and Warner put on the second-highest third-wicket stand by Australia against South Africa, after Marnus Labuschagne was run-out in the morning session. Smith was less fluent than usual but still managed to cash in on loose deliveries as the attack grew weary. But his time with Warner was not without its chances.

Lungi Ngidi found Warner’s edge with his third ball, but it flew past gully for four and Marco Jansen drew Smith forward and got a healthy nick, but it fell short of second slip. Then, Smith offered a genuine chance when he gloved Jansen down leg. Kyle Verreynne made good ground to his left but could not hold on before Warner inside edged Ngidi past the stumps.

All those half-chances meant nothing when Warner reached 8,000 Test runs and then went on to bring up his hundred with a pull off Rabada. He celebrated with a jump and air punch. Rabada thought he had Smith before the former captain reached fifty but overstepped on the delivery Smith appeared to glove on the pull although replays were inconclusive. Smith brought up fifty soon after, with a cut past point off Jansen.

Australia led by 42 runs at tea and and accelerated in the final session. They scored 83 runs in 11 overs in the post tea session – and 155 in 28 in total – as they ripped into Ngidi and Rabada. Both bowled a little too short in search of a wicket. Smith looked well on his way to a century of his own before Nortje got the better of him, with Warner eight runs away from a double hundred and starting to cramp severely.

He seemed to barely have the energy to keep going but the motivation of a double ton kept him at the crease until he was able to reach for a wide Ngidi delivery and it flew off the edge to the boundary. His second hundred came off just 110 balls. Warner dropped to his haunches and raised both arms in a double salute but he struggled to get back up. Once he’d made his way to stand, he was helped off the field to an ovation from the 40,000 strong crowd. If he does not return to bat, his will be the highest individual innings in Test cricket to end retired hurt.

South Africa took the second new ball as soon as it became available and it was shared by Nortje and Jansen. While Nortje asked questions again, Jansen only seemed easier to hit. As he searched for swing, Travis Head flicked him over square leg for six and then four and raced to a run-a-ball 48.

Australia are likely to continue to bat for as long as they can, especially as their attack could be depleted for the second innings. Mitchell Starc injured his left middle-finger while fielding on the first day and will bowl only if required while Cameron Green was hit on the right index finger by Jansen while batting and it immediately swelled up. Green also retired hurt which could leave Australia with only Pat Cummins, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon to close out the match.

(Story from ESPNcricinfo by Firoose Moonda)

Andre Coley appointed Interim Head WI Coach for Zimbabwe & SA Tours

Andre Coley has been named as the Interim Head Coach of the West Indies Men’s team for the upcoming tour of southern Africa. Following a meeting of the Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) Board of Directors on Monday 19 December, CWI announced that Coley will oversee the two-Test tour of Zimbabwe from 28 January to 16 February, as well as the multi-format tour of South Africa, which includes two Tests, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20 Internationals (T20Is) from 21 February to 28 March.

Coley said: “To be asked to oversee the West Indies team on the upcoming tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa is a special honour. West Indies cricket holds a special place in my heart. The upcoming assignment will be challenging as we will come up against two teams in their home conditions. We will need to ensure that our planning and preparation are appropriate, and demonstrate consistency in the execution of these plans, to give ourselves the best opportunity to achieve positive results.”

He added: “The players, I’m sure, are enthusiastic about the opportunities that both series should offer and are eager to contribute to our team’s success. I look forward to the tours ahead and the opportunity to make a tangible and meaningful contribution to the growth of West Indies cricket.”

Jimmy Adams, CWI Director of Cricket said: “We welcome Andre back to the West Indies dressing room and with his wealth of knowledge of the game, player-management skills, dedication and hard work, as well as attention to detail, we know he is well equipped. He is a highly experienced coach who has functioned at every level within the CWI High-Performance Pathway. This has prepared him for the job at hand and we expect he will again approach this new role with the same vigor and zeal which have characterized his time in the CWI coaching system and has earned the respect of players and everyone who he has interacted with.”

Coley, a former Jamaica wicket-keeper/batter, is currently Head Coach of the CWI Academy programme. While Andre Coley fulfils the interim role, CWI’s High-Performance Manager Graeme West will oversee the West Indies Academy programme, supported by the Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams to ensure there are no disruptions to the Academy programme during the period.

Coley previously served as the Assistant Academy Head Coach and Interim Academy Head Coach when the Sagicor Academy was launched in 2010. He was also Head Coach of the West Indies U19 Team; Assistant Coach of the West Indies Men’s and Women’s Teams, as well as Head Coach of Jamaica Scorpions and Windward Islands Volcanoes, who were the 2018 Super50 Cup Champions.

In 2016 he was Assistant Coach of the West Indies Men’s Team which won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and earlier this year he was Assistant Coach of Jamaica Tallawahs when they captured the Caribbean Premier League title.

CWI also confirmed that the contracts of Assistant Coaches Roddy Estwick and Monty Desai had ended.

Adams said: “I’d like to thank Roddy and Monty for their hard work and dedication in supporting the team over the last few years and wish them the very best in the future.”

TOUR SCHEDULES

West Indies in Zimbabwe

28 to 31 January: four-day warm-up at Bulawayo Athletic Sports Club

4 to 8 February: 1st Test at Queens Sports Club

12 to 16 February: 2nd Test at Queens Sports Club

West Indies in South Africa

21 to 24 February: vs South Africa Invitational XI at Willowmoore Park, Benoni

28 February to 4 March: 1st Test at SuperSport Park, Centurion

8-12 March: 2nd Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

16 March: 1st ODI at Buffalo Park, East London (day/night)

18 March: 2nd ODI at Buffalo Park, East London (day/night)

21 March: 3rd ODI at JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom

25 March: 1st T20Is at SuperSport Park, Centurion

26 March: 2nd T20I at SuperSport Park, Centurion

28 March: 3rd T20I at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg (night)

Neymar returns as Brazil cruise past South Korea into World Cup quarterfinals

Brazil turned on the style, dancing their way to a one-sided 4-1 win over South Korea in their World Cup round-of-16 match at Qatar’s Stadium 974 on Monday.

Vinicius Junior, Neymar, Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta were all on the scoresheet in a dominant first half as Brazil cruised into a quarterfinal matchup against 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia on Dec. 9.

Neymar, who had missed Brazil’s final two group games after picking up an ankle injury against Cameroon, and Danilo returned to the starting XI for Tite with the Selecao continuing their quest for a sixth World Cup title.

With 82-year-old Brazil legend Pele cheering the team from hospital while recovering from a respiratory illness, Vinicius wasted no time putting his side ahead, settling a cross from Raphinha that found him unmarked at the back post and calmly curling a shot into the side netting.

South Korea’s Jung Woo-Young fouled Richarlison in the area minutes after the opener to give Neymar a chance to double the lead. The Paris Saint-Germain star made no mistake from the spot, sending goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu the wrong way to make it 2-0 inside of 15 minutes.

Richarlison made it 3-0 before the half-hour mark, sliding the easiest of finishes into the South Korean goal following some brilliant individual skill and clever interplay with Thiago Silva at the top of the penalty area.

For their fourth goal of the first half, Brazil hit a helpless South Korea with a counter-attack that saw Neymar feed Vinicius, who in turned scooped a cross for the onrushing Paqueta to sidefoot home with his first touch.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-Min forced a great save from Alisson just after the restart and Raphinha was twice denied at the other end as he looked to add to Brazil’s tally.

Despite holding Brazil goalless in the second half and scoring a stunning late consolation goal through Paik Seung-Ho, the damage was already done as South Korea’s World Cup came to an end against the high-flying tournament favourites.

(Story from ESPN FC, Photos from FIFA)

Australia v West Indies: Nathan Lyon takes six wickets as hosts seal 164-run win.

Lyon now has 446 wickets in 111 Tests.

First Test, Optus Stadium, Perth (day five):
Australia 598-4 dec (Labuschagne 204, Smith 200*) & 182-2 dec (Labuschagne 104)
West Indies 283 (Brathwaite 64; Cummins 3-34, Starc 3-51) & 333 (Brathwaite 110; Lyon 6-128)
Australia won by 164 runs
Scorecard

Nathan Lyon took six wickets as Australia beat a dogged West Indies by 164 runs in the first Test in Perth.

Set a record 498 to win, the tourists began the final day on 192-3 needing a further 306 for victory.

But Lyon removed Kyle Mayers for 10 and bowled Kraigg Brathwaite, who resumed on 101, for 110 in the first 10 overs.

Roston Chase and Alzarri Joseph battled for an eighth-wicket stand of 82 before spinner Travis Head bowled Joseph for 43, allowing Lyon to seal victory.

The off-spinner had Chase caught at deep square leg for 55, sealing his 21st Test five-wicket haul, and bowled number 11 Kemar Roach for a duck a ball later to finish with 6-128 in 42.5 overs.

West Indies were all out for 333 in 110.5 overs.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood also took a wicket each for the hosts, who were hampered by captain Pat Cummins being unable to bowl because of a quad injury.

The win was set up by Marnus Labuschagne’s 204 in the first innings and 104 not out in the second.

Story By The Guardian.

Netherlands dominate USA in first knock-out World Cup match!

A 3-1 victory for the Oranje at the Khalifa International Stadium sends Team USA home.

Image via Getty Images

The Netherlands have put three goals past the USA to book a place in the football World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar.

Despite scoring once, the USA posed little challenge to their opponents, who repeatedly outclassed the Stars and Stripes at the Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday.

Matt Turner in the USA goal produced some spectacular saves to deny the Dutch a larger scoreline, while his opposite number Andries Noppert was called upon far less frequently.

Although the USA enjoyed long periods of possession in a bright first-half display, all too often a lack of composure in the final third let them down.

Instead, it was the Dutch who calmly bided their time before carving open the USA defense with forensic precision.

USA forward Christian Pulisic squandered a golden chance to put his team 1-0 up after only three minutes when he found himself in space only to see a scuffed shot saved.

But the Netherlands grew into the game, with Memphis Depay and Daley Blind finding the net after being both assisted by Denzel Dumfries in the 10th and the first minute of first-half added time, respectively.

Image via Getty Images

Cody Gakpo cleared Tim Ream’s header off the line early in the second half to keep the Netherlands’ advantage safe, but the men in orange wasted chances to put the game to bed.

Second-half substitute Haji Wright cut the US deficit to 2-1 in the 76th minute when Pulisic’s cross hit his trailing foot and popped over Noppert and into the net.

But Dumfries restored a two-goal lead for the Netherlands in the 81st minute – this time Blind provided the assist.

Runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010, the Oranje extended their unbeaten streak to 19 games and will face next the winner of Saturday’s evening clash between Argentina and Australia.

Image via Getty Images

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

Pelé moved to end-of-life care in hospital, reports say

Brazilian football legend is reportedly no longer responding to chemotherapy treatment.

The Brazilian football great Pelé is receiving palliative care after he stopped responding to chemotherapy treatment for colon cancer, the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S Paulo has reported.

Pelé, 82, was admitted to hospital on Tuesday to re-evaluate his cancer treatment, according to medical reports.

According to Folha de S Paulo, the chemotherapy has now been suspended and Pelé is receiving end-of-life care, being treated only for symptoms such as pain and shortness of breath.

The Albert Einstein hospital in São Paulo declined to confirm reports that the football legend known as the The King is under palliative care and said it would only communicate through official bulletins. The latest medical report, released on Friday, said Pelé was being treated with antibiotics for a respiratory infection. His condition was “stable, with a general improvement in his health status”, the report said.

Pelé sought to reassure fans in an Instagram post on Thursday, saying that he was making his “monthly visit” to hospital. He posted a picture of a Qatar building lit up with a message wishing him a prompt recovery and thanked the World Cup-hosting nation for “the tribute”.

His daughter, Kely Nascimento, who is in Qatar for the tournament, also sought to assuage concerns surrounding the football legend’s health. “The media is freaking out again,” she said on social media on Thursday, adding that her siblings were with their father and that Pelé’s health did not require her to jump on a plane back to Brazil.

Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. He rose to international fame aged just 17 when he scored six goals for Brazil in the 1958 World Cup, including two in the final in which Brazil beat the hosts, Sweden, to win their first world title.

Pelé, who retired from football in 1977, has been suffering from health problems in recent years. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in September 2021 and spent two weeks in hospital last December.

Story Via TheGaurdian.com .

GCA-Ramchand Auto Spares/Survival Group/Trophy Stall U-19 Tourney Launched

Two years after the local sports fraternity’s activities were forced to a halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) on Friday evening launched its first U-19 50-Over tournament since 2019. Local companies Ramchand Auto Spares, Survival Group of Companies and Trophy Stall have thrown their invaluable support behind the tournament which began on Saturday (March 12).


Speaking at the launch which was held at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), GCA President Neil Barry expressed gratitude to the sponsors for coming onboard despite all that is going on in the world.
“It is heartening to see our local companies throwing their weight behind the GCA, especially in sponsoring this tournament at the Under-19 level which is an important stage of our young cricketers’ development. Without these types of tournaments, we cannot produce the talent to improve Guyana’s cricket and ultimately take West Indies back to where it ought to be” Barry posited.

GCA President Neil Barry

Meanwhile Mr. Ramchand Ragbeer of Ramchand Auto Spares noted that his company is pleased to be onboard and is looking forward to some exciting cricket in the coming weeks.
Speaking on behalf of the Survival Group of Companies, Mr. Mark De Freitas stated that it was an honour for the Survival Group to be accepted as a sponsor of the GCA’s tournament.


De Freitas pointed out; “It is our company’s first time being involved in the sponsorship of cricket, but it most definitely won’t be the last time, to the participants we wish you all the best and may the best team win”. In addition to sponsorship of the tournament, the Survival Group of Companies through their Travel Agency has put up a Most Valuable Player (MVP) incentive in the form of a trip for two to the Kaieteur Falls.


The competition will see over 170 youths from in and around Georgetown (registered with Georgetown clubs under the GCA) showcase their skill sets over the coming weeks. Twelve teams will compete for top honours within two zones with the top two from each zone securing a berth in the semi-finals. The twelve teams are Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), GNIC, Muslim Youth Organization (MYO), Queens College (QC), Everest Cricket Club (ECC), Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC), Transport Cricket Club, 4R Lions, Bel Air Rubis, Agricola and Georgetown XI.


Zone A comprises GNIC, GCC, 4R Lions, GT XI, DCC and Malteenoes while Zone B will pit MYO, Transport, Bel Air Rubis, Agricola, QC and Everest against each other.
The competition got underway on Saturday (March 12) with two matches; 4R Lions took on GCC at the latter’s home ground while QC hosted Agricola. Matches will be played at venues across Georgetown.

GCB outraged at non-selection of Guyanese cricketers by CWI

Following the announcement of the West Indies 15-man squad for the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has expressed their displeasure with the choices of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel which is headed by Guyanese Roger Harper.

Among the 15-man squad, the woefully out of form Chris Gayle, Andre Fletcher and Oshane Thomas has been named ahead of the likes of Guyana’s Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd and Jamaica’s Odean Smith. Rutherford is among the top five leading runscorers in the ongoing CPL while Shepherd is the leading wicket-taker with Odean Smith not far behind. The selections by the CWI has left the public and the cricketing fraternity of the Caribbean perplexed.

In a release to the media, the GCB noted; “The Executive and members of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) wish to once again express our extreme concern with the continuous omission of Guyanese players from representative teams of Cricket West Indies (CWI) as well as from the players’ retainer contracts of CWI.”

Sherfane Rutherford

“On May 17, 2021, the GCB had cause to issue a strongly-worded press release and also a letter to the CEO of CWI, Mr. Johnny Grave, detailing our concerns with the selection process. We requested that CWI furnish the GCB with the criteria used for the retainer contracts as well as the selection of our players to CWI representative teams.”


“In response to a request by the GCB directors (CWI), CEO Johnny Grave stated that there was no requirement or obligation for CWI to explain the decision(s) of their selection policy. The present selection process appears riddled with inconsistencies, clearly subjective and discriminatory.”

The release continued; “Because of the noticeable omission of our players-Romario Shepherd, Sherfane Rutherford, Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul and Chandrapaul Hemraj, we reiterate our call for an explanation of the reasons for these omissions together with the selection policy information used. The impression is created that there is no selection criteria document or it is a closely-guarded secret that cannot stand up to scrutiny.”

“The GCB is perplexed with the contention by CWI selectors that Sherfane Rutherford is unfit. CWI should advise the Caribbean cricket public regarding the standard and schedule for fitness tests for regional cricketers. The GCB holds the view that Rutherford is game-fit as clearly indicated by his outstanding performances in the 2021 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and his selection to the Sunrisers Hyderbad team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The GCB regards the issue of Rutherford’s fitness as an excuse to exclude one of the talented young cricketers in the Caribbean”.

“The CWI selection panel has disappointed Guyana and the Caribbean at large. The GCB (as a shareholder of CWI) is insisting that the selection panel be accountable to all cricket institutions and stakeholders in the region and to justify this latest selection fiasco. Failure to do so, the GCB calls on CWI to dismiss the selection panel and to replace it with a more competent one which will represent the best interests of West Indies cricket”.