West Indies National Cricket Team head coach Phil Simmons questioned unavailability of Andre Russell in the national side. However, the star West Indian all rounder is up with his reply.
Russell has closed the door for his selection just a few months ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. Moreover, availability of few other players is doubtful too. Trinidadian spinner Sunil Narine is also uncertain about his participation. Fabian Allen too has shown several personal reasons fir his absence. However, players like and Evin Lewis and Oshane Thomas haven’t shown up for their fitness tests.
Phil Simmons, the West Indies National Cricket Team head coach Phil Simmons as well as the chief selector Desmond Haynes expressed their agony on this issue, on Wednesday. There has been zero clarity about the participation of key players including Russell, which can be a alarming for West Indies.
Simmons vents out on the issue of Russell, to ESPNcricinfo saying,
“It hurts. There’s no other way to put it. But what can you do? I don’t think that I should be begging people to play for their countries. I think if you want to represent West Indies, you will make yourself available.”
Simmons further added,
“Life has changed, in that people have the opportunities to go different places and if they choose that over West Indies, that’s just how it is.”
Andre Russell is unavailable because he hasn’t made himself available for West Indies: Desmond Haynes
Andre Russell has not represented West Indies National Cricket Team in match after ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. However, he has been a regular face in different T20 leagues throughout the world. Russell is also even in the squad for a three match T-20I series between West Indies and New Zealand.
While speaking on Russell, Desmond Haynes, the West Indies National Cricket Team chief selector said,
“From what I have gathered, I think he is unavailable because he hasn’t made himself available.”
Meanwhile, on August 12, Russell took his Instagram handle to respond the West Indies management. He posted the screenshot of Simmons’ comments and wrote,
“I know this was coming but am gonna stay quiet!!!.”
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