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GUYANATIMESGY.COM
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2017
West Indies may play Sir Andy believes Cornwall is ready T20s in Pakistan F
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est Indies are considering to tour Pakistan for two T20Is in March this year, subject to security clearance and agreement from the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA), after receiving a proposal and security plan from the PCB. “There is an offer [from the PCB] to play two T20 matches in Pakistan, subject to Players’ Association agreement and security clearance,” Roland Holder, WICB manager of cricket operations, told ESPNcricinfo. “The WICB has received a security plan from the PCB, which we have forwarded to our internal security manager, WIPA and an independent international security firm whom we have also engaged to provide a security report. WIPA and WICB are carrying out its own due diligence prior to making a determination as to the security situation since the safety of the players and staff is paramount. Once those reports are received a final decision will be made after WICB conducts a recce of the venues.” Over the recent ICC meetings, the PCB has managed to convince the WICB to consider visiting Pakistan. Lahore is likely to host West Indies for two T20s on March 18 and 19. The two teams will then move to Lauderhill in Florida for two more T20s. W e s t Indies allr o u n d er Andre Russell had bec o m e t h e first
high-profile overseas player in the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL) to express a willingness to play in Pakistan. Former West Indies captain Darren Sammy had also said he would travel to Pakistan subject to security clearance. The PCB has also been initiating steps to host the 2017 PSL final in Lahore on March 9. This again is subject to security clearance and the PSL management is likely to take a final decision by February 25, three days before the start of the playoffs. According to PSL chairman Najam Sethi, the Punjab government has given the board a go ahead, but, according to Urdu Jang, a local daily, some players are reluctant to tour Pakistan. The PCB bought four bulletproof buses, following Zimbabwe’s visit, in July 2016, to improve security. The board hopes the additional security measures would help convince players. FICA, the international players’ association, however, said that the advice it has received concerning security in Pakistan is that travel to the country is still a risk for international players. FICA’s comments came a day after the PCB said it would host the 2017 PSL final in Lahore, after conducting the league stage and the semi-finals in the UAE. Tony Irish, FICA executive chairman, was still uncertain
about the possibility of the PSL final going ahead in Pakistan. “We are in the process of obtaining updated security advice on playing the PSL final in Lahore,” Irish had said. “We don’t expect much change in the advice previously obtained, but will await the updated situation and then communicate to players. As previously pointed out players play in the PSL as individuals and therefore each make their own decisions on whether to play in Lahore or not. The security risks as communicated by FICA are a factor in their decision making.” Last year, Zimbabwe became the first Full Member nation to tour Pakistan since 2009, when an attack on the Sri Lankan team bus resulted in the suspension of international cricket from Pakistan. The ICC, however, refused to send its match officials for the series in May 2015. Pakistan then appointed their own match officials, and hoped the Zimbabwe series would serve as a stepping stone to revive international cricket in the country. That ambition, however, suffered a setback when a suicide attack took place near the Gaddafi Stadium during the second ODI. Zimbabwe, though, played the third and final ODI two days later and completed the tour. (ESPNcricinfo)
West Indies were swept in three matches in September 2016 in the United Arab Emirates
ormer West Indies fast bowler, Sir Andy Roberts, believes that fellow Antiguan and current player, Rahkeem “Jimbo” Cornwall has earned a callup to the regional squad. Sir Andy, during an interview on the Good Morning Jojo Sports Show, said the player’s form over the past 12 months certainly indicates that he is ready for a higher level of cricket. “Jimbo has been ready to move higher for more than a year now, but for me to say he is ready for Test cricket. I don’t think we really know when anybody is ready because you have a number of players, especially here in the Leewards who perform very well at regional level but fail to impress when they go a little bit higher,” he said. Called up to the West Indies A team for a tour of Sri Lanka, back in September, Cornwall ended as the leading wicket taker for the three unofficial
Sir Andy Roberts
Tests, claiming a total of 23 wickets for 456 runs at an economy rate of 3.08. The all-rounder is currently with the Leeward Islands Hurricanes preparing for the regional 50 overs tournament. Sir Andy, who made his Test debut in 1974, also urged young Antiguan pacer, Alzarri Joseph, to work on his weaknesses as he plays through a perceived bowling slump. (Antigua Observer)
Rahkeem Cornwall
Smith to call time on Pride 50-over career
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ashing former West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith will retire from domestic one-day cricket for Barbados Pride, ahead of this month’s Regional Super50. The 33-year-old said he was no longer a part of the selectors plans and though he was hurt by not being able to finish his career at home in this year’s 50-overs tournament, he had little choice but to call it quits. Barbados and Antigua are the hosts for the 2017 Super50 which runs from January 24 to February 18. “I basically have to make one big decision now for sure and that’s I’m going to send in my resignation from 50-overs cricket for Barbados Pride, banking on the back of not being given the opportunity to finish my career at home,” Smith told Line and Length Network. “I really wanted to, I’ve asked the selectors, I’ve spoken to them but obviously they had their different plans and I guess I didn’t fit in. “It was touching, it hurt me a lot because I really wanted – even if it was one game I played in the 50-overs competition Dwayne Smith coming up – I would have been happy.” Smith has garnered 3500 runs from 183 List A games at an average of 23 but had a disappointing outing in last year’s Super50 when he managed just 116 runs from eight innings at an average of 14. Pride reached the final before losing out to eventual champions Trinidad Red Force in the final. The right-handed Smith, a fixture on the international Twenty20 circuit, said he had been encouraged to end his Pride career at home and was hurt he could not bow out in this way. “A lot of the youngsters had asked me to finish in Barbados because I had told them I was not going to continue but they really, really wanted [me to finish at home],” said Smith, who quit first class cricket two years ago. “I re-
ally wanted to finish at home seeing that I knew the tournament was going to play at home but life goes on, I can’t really dwell on that.” He continued: It’s very touching for me because it hurt me a lot but I think I’ve had a lot of good times with Barbados cricket. I can say I’m one of those who are very patriotic. I love Barbados and I would do anything for Barbados cricket and I will hope that the youngsters go on and continue the good work because we’ve been doing some good work. “For the last two years or so, the team they have put together have been gelling well together and I love to see that camaraderie.” Smith’s international career has been over for some time. He has not played a OneDay International or T20 International for West Indies in two years, and said he had accepted this reality even though nothing formal had been communicated. He made 1560 runs in 105 ODIs and 582 runs in 33 T20s. “I know for sure I’m not going to play for West Indies anymore, I know that for sure – judging from the selections that have gone on before. But I’m not too bothered about that because I have a life to live,” he stressed. “It’s just for Dwayne Smith now to move on. I’ve had a very good career with Barbados cricket, probably could have been better. “I had some very fun moments playing with the likes of Corey Collymore, Sherwin Campbell, Philo Wallace … Pedro Collins, Fidel Edwards, Sulieman Benn and then coming along with the youngsters like (Kevin) Stoute, Jason Holder, Shamarh Brooks, Shane Dowrich, Kraigg Brathwaite.” He added: “My thing was to play for Barbados, finish a good year and let the youngsters take over. But it’s been good for me so I’ll just hope the youngsters continue to do the good work that Barbados has been doing over the years.” (CMC)