SAMMY'S IN A SOUP AND SO IS WINDIES CRICKET!

Cricket in Caribbean is in a deep mess... Absolutely no doubt about it... Even a second-third string Indian team managed to first beat them in the one-off T20 International and then in the first three ODIs so far to clinch the series. Chris Gayle is still sitting out, at times in the Trini Possi Stand at the Queens Park Oval, with a beer mug in his hand, seeing his team losing. What a shame! And then there is skipper Darren Sammy. Somehow, I find a lot common between (no ex) Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura and Sammy. Both don't look like leaders at all, on and off the field, both smile after defeats and whatever both say is not easy to understand...

So here was Sammy, issuing a statement hours before the start of the 3rd ODI in Antigua vs India - something on which captains of other Test playing countries - maybe even Bangladesh - would never comment...

Statement from West Indies Captain Darren Sammy

I am concerned about certain falsehoods which are being disseminated in certain sections of Caribbean media. These falsehoods seem designed to continue to smear my character as an individual, a cricketer and West Indies captain.

Therefore I wish to make it abundantly clear to the public that at no time did I discourage, dissuade or in any other way seek to influence any player’s non-attendance to the recently held WIPA Awards function. Players made their own decisions not to attend.

I also wish to make it clear that I myself was unable due to personal reasons. I expressed regret at my inability to attend however at no time did I give any commitment to WIPA or any of its officers that I would be attending the function and any suggestion to the contrary is not based in fact.

During the function WIPA President and CEO Mr. Dinanath Ramnarine called me on the phone and said he was sending a car to the team hotel to pick me up however without waiting for a response from me he hung up the phone. I was unable to contact him to explain that I would not be able to attend as I had previously indicated to him.

It has never been in my nature to behave in the manner being suggested. Those who know me as a person can attest to this and despite criticisms, challenges and the like I have always remained true to the ideals of representing West Indies cricket when and wherever it is required of me.