West Indies needs Chanderpaul now more than ever

Dear Editor,

Legendary cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul turned 42 earlier this month, but even at that age he can still perform better than almost everyone currently selected to represent the West Indies in the test series against India.

In fact, his performance, though not great, in his last series was better than most of his teammates. Chanders or Tiger, as he is called, has been unceremoniously dumped by the West Indies board although he wants to represent the region one final time to say goodbye to fans and the game. The West Indian selectors and management have refused to give him this final wish unlike say the cricket boards of other nations.

All other nations allow their iconic players a last wish but not Windies. Had the selectors and management granted Chanders his wish, he would have rescued the team from its disastrous performance over the last four series as he did so many times over the last dozen years because he has been churning out respectable scores in first class matches played since he was dumped in a most undignified manner.

The West Indies has performed miserably against India with one-and-a-half days of rain saving the team in the second test in what would have been another humiliating defeat as in the other matches.

Chanderpaul, who has been the backbone of the Windies batting line for over a decade, is needed now more than ever before as a role model guiding the youngsters how to bat in test matches.

Nirmal Shekar, writing in the prestigious The Hindu newspaper, asserted that Windies players lack pride in playing for nation or region, a justifiable charge that has come in the wake of the dismal performance the current series against India. The writer, not unexpectedly, blames management, players, lack of team spirit, and even the selectors for the poor state of Windies cricket.

The gutsy Chanderpaul, who the selectors discarded because of age even when he was performing better than the youngsters they selected, has played with honour and pride, and not driven by money as is the case of most of the other players.

Recall the tour to India was abandoned because of money. It was to be Chanders’ last overseas tour two years ago. But the money hungry players did not give Chanders an opportunity to bid farewell to India where he is loved by fans. Chanders would have done much better all alone against the Indians than this entire Windies team. And this was the best team the selection panel said it could come up with.

Is it not time for the selection panel to go since the team it selected has failed the region time and again?

Because of the management and selectors, Windies cricket is in a free fall in performance. Windies players need discipline and a recognition that they are playing for a cause – identity and pride. The selectors must put the best team forward (age, race, and who will break record should not matter. The selectors must stop its victimisation policy of punishing critics hurting players based on race and disagreements over policy.

It is not too late to bring back Chanderpaul and give him a fitting farewell in a last test match at home and away. He deserves no less. Besides Windies needs Shiv now more than ever.

Yours truly,

Vishnu Bisram