Lara sticks with WI ‘team-mates’

WORLD DOUBLE record holder was motivated by his desire for the best West Indies team to be selected when he replied to the West Indies Cricket Board on Saturday. Lara, in a letter to Roger Brathwaite, Chief Executive Officer of the WICB stated that after having devoted his life to all aspects of the game in the Caribbean, he had extreme difficulty in formulating an appropriate response to the invitation to join the regional team to play against South Africa in 11 days.

“On the one hand, if I were to accept the invitation then I would feel that I have abandoned part of the core of players who have represented the West Indies with me over recent years and all of whom are teammates,” Lara wrote. “On the other hand, if I were to decline the invitation, then I feel that I would be repudiating my deep feelings for the West Indian supporters and the futherance of the game,” the 36-year-old master batsman stated. “What I would like to see is the best team selected to compete in the forthcoming series. I would also like to see an amicable resolution to the outstanding issues in an atmosphere of mutual compromise and respect which would all redound to uplifting the morale and pride of the West Indian people who are so passionate about the sport,” the letter continued.

“I do not wish to be put in a position where I consider that my response to your invitation would be indicative of a selection of one option and the rejection of another,” Lara replied. “In circumstances where neither my loyalty to the players nor my loyalty to West Indies cricket can be denied, I confirm that I am willing, ready and able to continue participating in West Indies cricket. Provided that, even at this late stage, the best team will be seleted with an assurance from all of the parties that the outstanding issues would be brought to the table and discussed,” the letter further explained. It ended: “I wish to stage unequivocally that it is my intention to ensure the survival of West Indies cricket. This is my primary concern.”

The WICB had formally invited Lara to sign the invitation and match/tour contract on Friday after he was deemed to be the only one of seven players who currently holds personal endorsement contracts with Cable and Wireless, the main competitors of new West Indies team sponsors Digicel. The others are Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Fidel Edwards, Wavell Hinds and Ravi Rampaul. The WICB had initially given Lara 24 hours to consider his reply but he was given a further extention on Saturday, finally submitting the letter at about 6 pm. But the WICB considered the reply “non-committal” and went ahead and named the regional team for the First Test, omitting Lara and naming Shivnarine Chanderpaul as captain.