Chanderpaul stays WI captain

WEST Indies cricket selectors have recommended that Shivnarine Chanderpaul be retained as captain of the regional team for the upcoming tour of New Zealand. The decision was reached on Monday night when Convenor of Selectors Michael “Joey” Carew deliberated with the team’s Australian coach Bennett King and former Test offspinner Clyde Butts. The selectors also picked Chanderpaul’s countryman Ramnaresh Sarwan as his deputy. The meeting took place at the Emerald Apartments and Plaza at St Augustine and according to reports the discussions were very intense and went on for a very long time.

The nomination has been sent to the West Indies Cricket Board for ratification and an official  announcement is expected to be made sometime today. Carew, a former outstanding Trinidad and Tobago captain and attacking left-handed opening batsman yesterday confirmed on radio station i95.5FM that a decision was reached concerning the selection of the captain and vice-captain of the team. He told the “Dale and Tony Show” that he was unable to divulge the choice of the selectors pending the ratification of the names. However a source revealed that the left-handed Guyanese batsman was chosen ahead of Wavell Hinds, the Jamaican team captain who was touted as a worthy replacement in the regional media.

Also said to be considered  for the position was Trinidad and Tobago’s skipper Daren Ganga, who led the  West Indies “B” team last year on a tour of Sri Lanka. Chanderpaul, who made his Test debut in 1994 against England has played 91 Tests for the West Indies scoring 6,156 runs with a highest score of 203 not out. The 31-year-old from East Coast, Demerara has 14 Test hundreds to his name and 35 half-centuries. He has also represented the region in 178 One-Day Internationals, scoring 5,281 runs with three centuries and 35 half-centuries. He was selected West Indies captain to replace Brain Lara last year during an acriminous contract dispute involving Cable and Wireless, the long-standing sponsors of regional cricket and Digicel who had signed a new multi-million dollar five-year-contract with the WICB.

However he has not had a successful run at the helm losing ten of his 12 Tests as captain while not producing the kind of form that has earned him a Test average of close to 40. For Sarwan he will be getting a new lease on life after being demoted by the selectors following an act of indiscretion when he went into the stands at Sabina Park, Jamaica and was seen having fun shortly after West Indies were beaten by England two years ago.

Always seen as a future West Indies captain, he was then being groomed to take over the mantle whenever the situation arose but his flight of fancy put the plans of the WI selectors to rest. However since then he has redeemed himself and is being given another chance to assume the top position after serving an apprenticeship under his fellow Guyanese. West Indies start their New Zealand tour on February 15 with a Twenty20 match against the hosts in Auckland which precedes five One-Day Internationals and two Tests.