Emrit clean bowled by Windies selectors

The series will consist of three international matches in both formats from September 20 to October 9. Also, there will be a three-match Test series that will run from October 13 to November 3.

There was no room in either squad for the current Guyana Amazon Warriors captain despite performing exceptionally in the recently-concluded 2016 Caribbean Premier League (CPL), capturing 16 wickets with his brisk medium pace and leading the Amazon Warriors to the runners- up spot.

He expressed his displeasure by saying, “I`m obviously very disappointed by not being selected because I have been very consistent throughout the CPL and Super 50 tournaments and the teams are supposedly selected from there.” Then the question must be asked as to what is the exact criteria for making a West Indies team? Emrit has covered all bases and is eligible for selection after participating in all domestic competitions. Also, judging by his statistics, consistency, as well as experience, he should have earned a call-up.

“I can guarantee you that I’m the only bowler not to be selected on the WI team after totalling so many wickets regionally (54 wickets in CPL and 30 wickets in the last three seasons of Nagico Super 50).” The former Red Force captain has been amongst the wickets and the occasional runs consistently in all formats since debuting for WI versus India in January 2007, but have been continuously overlooked by the selectors undeservedly. Thus far, the former Stanford Superstar has claimed 171 wickets and scored over 2,000 runs (including three centuries) in 83 First-Class matches.

And, in his Twenty20 career, he scored just under 200 runs but claimed 90 wickets in 76 matches.

The evergreen 35-year-old, who seems to be improving every season, is not giving up hope as yet.

He stated, “I’ll just have to work even harder, stay fit, continue to get wickets and score more runs and hopefully they will consider me.” He can seek motivation from Pakistan Test captain Misbahul- Haq (42), Sri Lanka Test team left-arm spinner Rangana Herath (38) and Australia Test team middle-order batsman Adam Voges (36) who are dominating world cricket despite their age.

The all-rounder, who played in the last three finals of both the CPL and Nagico Super 50, was retained for another year by the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force franchise for the 2016- 2017 WICB Professional Cricket League Regional Four-Day Tournament.