Selectors must pick Windies teams on merit

Jun 13, 2020 Letters, Sports

Letter to the Sports Editor

Dear Sir,
Please permit me space in your newspaper to add my voice to the omission of Veerasammy Permaul from the West Indies senior team. It is indeed a very sad affair when you give all your effort; bowl your heart out for country and having exceptional performances and you simply can’t make a West Indies team. Permaul has over 223 wickets in the last five years. He is part of the Guyana team that won the championship for 5 years and his performance was instrumental in winning these championships.
Mr. Editor it was reported that the chief selector said that conditions didn’t permit them to include Permaul in the team. Let’s start with the Rose Bowl, Moen Alli a right arm spinner has the most wickets at the Rose Bowl 17 wickets from two matches with a best of 5 for 67 and a left arm spinner, R. A. Jadega has five wickets from one test with a best of 3 for 52, then we move to Old Trafford where the late Jim Laker took 27 wickets with a best of 19 for 90.
We also have Lance Gibbs who played 3 matches with 23 wickets with a best of 6 for 98, also there is Monty Panesar a left arm finger spinner who has 25 wickets with a best of 6 for 37 from 3 matches. There is Shane Warne with 21 wickets from 3 matches with best bowling 5 for 48 and Moen Ali 3 matches 16 wickets with a best 6 for 69.
How can the chief selector tell us that conditions didn’t permit them to select Permaul when evidence is there to prove that spinners have done well at these venues over the years, when we speak it must be based on research, apparently none was done just empty statements.
Permaul non selection has hurt the entire Guyanese cricket fraternity, he merits selection, he is in form, what more must he do to gain selection. This is insularity to the highest extent. What must be going through the minds of young cricketers in Guyana when performance can’t gain you selection, what else can gain you selection when the most consistent bowler in West Indies domestic cricket can’t even make a second eleven; its mind boggling.
To say you went for the incumbent is no excuse, the selectors have picked Jomel Warrican who failed against Afghanistan, apparently performance is not a criterion for selection. We need selectors who pick players on merit or West Indies cricket will never improve.
Yours in Sport,
S. Ahmad.

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