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Shiv says he has not retired intends to bat his way back into WI team
By Sean Devers
Shivnarine Chanderpaul has not retired from any level of cricket despite being dropped for next month’s
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
two-Test series against Australia in Dominica and Jamaica and according to the GCB has signaled his willingness to compete in the 2015/2016 Regional Four-Day cricket tournament which begins in November.
Chanderpaul intends to score heavily in the Regional tournaments to prove that age is just a number and fight his way back into the West Indies team. He will also hope that there will be a new panel of selectors.
This was after the experienced left-hander with 30 centuries and 11,867 runs to his name from a record 164 Tests since making his debut in 1994 at Bourda against England asked to be selected for the Australia series after hearing rumors that he had retired.
He is also set to play in CPL t20 competition for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in a tournament which start on June 26 in Barbados.
In a wattsapp message between Coach Phillip Simmons and Chanderpaul, the Guyanese thanked Simmons for letting him know what was happening regarding his place in the team and told Simmons he wanted to be included in the team against Australia as a final series.
Simmons told Chanderpaul that it was up to him to make a call on Chanderpaul and that he had decided to give the Guyanese his say in the matter because he has been a great servant of West Indies cricket.
Former Test player Philo Wallace recently made his views clear on Chanderpaul saying that he should be given the five home Tests (three
Phill Simmons
against England and two against Australia) and then properly honoured by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for his services to the regional team.
“The above statement was given by you in your interview. Now that it is left to me to make that decision. I would make myself available for the upcoming Australia series. At the conclusion of the series, it would give me an opportunity to thank the WI public and the board for all the opportunities. It may also be an occasion for the WICB to recognize me for my long and dedicated service. It would be a good send off after dedicating 21 years of my life to WI cricket,” Chanderpaul told Simmons.
Simmons responded that he did say that but it was about the final test in the England series.
“We had selection before each test and I did back you for the Barbados test when it was close between the selectors but it is no longer close for the Australia series.
I understand how you feel but it is in the hands of the selectors not yourself to decide on a squad for the series so what I was saying to you is that you retiring would make more sense than you being left out of the squad for the series.
You can still thank the WICB and the public for the opportunities in your statement and the WICB will recognise you for your long and dedicated service to cricket,” Simmons, a former T&T and West Indies Test player, told Chanderpaul.
Chanderpaul explained that based on his long and dedicated service to WI cricket, he thought he should be given the opportunity to retire on his own terms.
“My request to finish up with the Australian series is not asking too much. It gives me a chance to acknowledge my supporters at home, and the possibility of the WICB properly honoring me for my contribution to WI cricket. I should not be pushed into retirement. Here is a situation where I firmly believe public opinion would be in favour of me being given the opportunity to play in my final test series at home. Thanks,” Chanderpaul told his Coach.
To this Simmons responded, “There is no dispute that you have dedicated the last 21 years of your life to WI cricket and as stated before this will be acknowledged and recognised by the WICB, but unfortunately length of service is not a criterion for selection.
If public opinion was a criteria for selection then we can agree maybe you would play until you are fifty unfortunately it is not.
I am not pushing you into retirement I am as previously said, trying to dignify the situation because Chanderpaul retiring would be more dignified than Chanderpaul being left out by the selectors.”
“Since you and the selectors said it is up to me to decide. I have decided to make myself available for the Australian series. I AM NOT RETIRING. Thanks,” Chanderpaul concluded.
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