Christchurch, Feb 18 (IANS) West Indies batting legend Brian Lara has described as “a self-inflicted blow”, the decision by the Clive Lloyd-led selection panel to exclude Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo from the regional side for the ongoing World Cup.
The former West Indies captain said he is confused by the decision to leave Pollard and Bravo out of the side still struggling to reclaim its title as world beaters, CMC reported Tuesday.
Lara’s opinions are contained in an article he wrote for the Trinidad Guardian newspaper just before the West Indies crashed to a four wicket defeat at the hands of minnows Ireland in their world cup opener Monday.
“I believe we have shot ourselves in the foot and had the people who selected our team seen the World Cup for the prestigious tournament it is, both Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo would have been in Australia, New Zealand,” wrote Lara.
“It is hard to understand the reasons why they are absent. It’s a self-inflicted blow, for sure."
Bravo was captain of the West Indies side that pulled out of a tour of India last October because of a pay dispute between the players’ union and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
But Lloyd, who criticised the abandonment at the time, insisted that Bravo had not been overlooked for the World Cup because of his role in the walkout.
However the chairman of selectors, who led the West Indies to World Cup triumph in 1975 and 1979, told reporters that the time had come to exclude Bravo and Pollard on the basis of underperformance.
“Statistics do not always tell the whole story and simply put, there are no sensible reasons why both players are not there. In fact, the reasons advanced for their omissions are ridiculous,” Lara wrote.
“Pollard’s mere presence is enough to put fear in the hearts of the opposition, and his attitude and confidence is such that it lifts the members of his own team.”
Pollard and Bravo are fourth and fifth on the list of highest run-scorers for the West Indies since the 2011 World Cup.
“Statistics cannot put a value on that, or the indomitable camaraderie and spirit which he and Bravo deliver,” insisted Lara.
The Caribbean side plays Pakistan in Christchurch Saturday in their second match of the Pool B of the World Cup.
Gurugram - 24 patients died in a week due to corona infection
Gurugram. In the case of corona infection, the situation in the district is improving rapidly, bu
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi called the detention of climate activist Sonam Wan
Bulldozers will roar continuously against encroachment and illegal construction in the country's
Tata Group's honorary chairman and veteran industrialist Ratan Tata died late Wednesday night. He
Because of the increasing cases of corona, the weekend lockdown has been imposed in nine district
UP CM Yogi Adityanath has told the need to maintain balance in population along with efforts to c
Congress protests over Rajya Sabha select panel reports
New Delhi, March 18 (IANS) The report of the Select Committee on the coal and mines and mineral
Former Congress national president and MP Rahul Gandhi has got bail in the defamation case. MP Ra
Why were Lalu and Nitish fielded in the by-elections for two assembly seats in Bihar?
The victory or defeat of any party in the by-elections to be held on October 30 at Tarapur and Ku
Afghanistan News: IS Khorasan wants to destroy the Taliban, China is also a reason behind this
Now two terrorist organizations are face to face in Afghanistan. The Taliban, which has captured
