What’s the real reason for Sarwan’s omission?

Oct 25, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
The non-selection of Ramnaresh Sarwan on the West Indies team to tour Sri Lanka next, month has sent shock waves to the cricket loving supporters in Guyana.
The reason given by the selectors, coach and WICB cannot stand scrutiny by the public.
Sarwan’s fitness level is the reason given for his omission. The selectors and the board should release the fitness level of the entire WI team including Sarwan’s and let us be the judge if they are telling us the truth.
Since Sarwan returned to Guyana he was encamped with the Guyana team at the LBI Hostel for a long period and then as captain he went with the team to Barbados then Trinidad for the T.20 championship.
He played in all the matches and Guyana won. He returned to Guyana and he and his teammates were again encamped. He played two matches against Trinidad at the stadium. The team then left for South Africa where as captain he played in all matches.
He returned to Guyana and immediately he was involved in preparations for the El Dorado 50-over Inter-County competition. He captained Demerara in this competition; from this competition, he as captain took the Guyana team to Jamaica for WICB 50-over competition.
They won the first match then the WI team was announced. The shock of his omission must have caused the team to perform poorly. Is this the playing record of a class player who is not physical fit? The selectors must answer this question if they cannot they should resign.
Examine the test record of Sarwan against those selected. Sarwan averages over 40 in both test and one day internationals. Only Chanderpaul and maybe Gayle average more than him in test against Sri Lanka. Sarwan is one of the best among the current WI players, both at home and in Sri Lanka. Only Brian Lara, who has retired has a better record than Sarwan.
These statistics leave many of us to wonder what are to true reasons for his non-selection.
Sarwan should have been selected to go to the camp before the tour with the clear understanding that if his fitness level is not up to standard he would not be taken to Sri Lanka.
This should also apply to every member of the WI team. I call on the sports loving people of Guyana, GCB, Ministry of Sports and Govt. of Guyana to stand up now to the injustice being done to a top class Guyanese and West Indian cricketer and let our voices be heard loud and clear.
It is time to stop the decline in WI cricket where failures are recycled after a rest and now they are not selecting those who have performed, giving frivolous reasons for this act. This is an act to destroy WI cricket not to build it.
Sheikh Ahmad

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