Lara says retirement not on

"People are always asking me when? When?" Lara said on Sunday. "I say to them ‘you tell me.’"

"When the people tell me it’s time to go, then I’ll go. Do that for me: let the public know that when they want me to go, I’ll go. I play for the people."

He was speaking on Sunday at the Carlton Cricket Club following Trinidad and Tobago’s comprehensive 264-run win over Barbados that gave the twin-island republic their first regional four-day title since 1985. "I’ll know when it’s time to go. I’ll tell you when," he said. "I’m committed to West Indies cricket now as always."

"There are no retirement plans for me right now. There is the New Zealand tour upcoming in a few weeks, and I’m taking it tour by tour."

He added: "At my age it’s not a case of coming back and not a case of showing potential. I’m who I am as a cricketer and I will keep going on until the time is right to go."

"Once I’m an asset in the West Indies I will be available to play. Once I become a liability I’m gone. I don’t want to hang around and take someone’s place. Once I’m playing well and doing well for the team I will be there."

The West Indies team leaves for New Zealand today without Lara who has opted out of the one-day matches.

He will fly out early next month for the three Test matches but plans to spend the upcoming weeks partying in Trinidad’s Carnival celebrations.

"I love Carnival and it will give me a chance to relax away from the pressures of cricket," he said.

"It’s part of my country’s culture and we all look forward to it every year. I will have a chance to jump up and down and enjoy myself."