Kingston, Jamaica, April 16 PPI: West Indies Cricket Board CEO Ernest Hilaire says WICB have not abandoned senior players despite non selection of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan or Chris Gayle for Twenty20 and first two one-day internationals against Pakistan starting on April 21 in St Lucia.
"We are exposing players at the international level to see how comfortable, competent and capable theyare we had set 2015 World Cup as a target for when we should have a team which will challenge as worldchampions. Selectors have not said that they are axing, dropping, or dismissing any particular player permanently… they are pursuing a policy of exposing newer players and giving other players an opportunity to play," he added.
"I would not go down the road of saying that any player will not play for West Indies again there was no deliberate attempt to abandon older players." Hilaire said players will not always be happy with their decisions, but there is a bigger picture, which is West Indies cricket, and he expected that confidential discussions between players and selectors will remain as such.Speaking specifically about opening batsman Chris Gayle, he explained that long-standing opening batsman has not yet undergone a fitness test, following a groin injury sustained during the World Cup,which required corrective surgery.
