Chanderpaul quits as WI cap

The West Indies Cricket Board yesterday announced that they had received the resignation letter from the 31-year-old Guyanese left-handed batsman.

He recently served as captain from the 2005 Home Series against South Africa and Pakistan until the recent tour to New Zealand.

Chanderpaul issued the following statement:

“...I would like to take this opportunity to tender my resignation as captain with immediate effect. This would give me an opportunity to focus on my batting and other areas of my cricket ...where I would be able to make a more significant contribution to the team, by being more focused on my batting etc.

“I have served my time as the captain and would like to pass the mantle on to another person. I would fully support my replacement, and work towards the good of the team.

“I would like to thank all who worked with me during my tenure as captain, and I am looking forward to continuing my hard work for West Indies cricket.”

President of WICB, Kenneth Gordon contacted Chanderpaul to thank him for his services to West Indies cricket. He emphasised in the discussion the importance of Chanderpaul’s role to the team.

Gordon said that a replacement captain will be announced shortly and that it will be improper of him to comment on the issue any further as the regional selection committee must meet to select a candidate for the job.

He described Chanderpaul’s decision as a “reasonable one” as the batsman wants to concentrate on improving his batting which has been on the wane since he was appointed captain of the regional team.

One of the frontrunners for the top job will be Trinidad and Tobago’s skipper Daren Ganga whose leadership qualities have been unquestioned and identified very early in his career.

The right-handed opening batsman is currently having an excellent regional Carib Beer Series having led Trinidad and Tobago to their first West Indies championship in 27 years earlier this season.

He also is in line to record an historic double as Trinidad and Tobago are also in the final of the Carib Beer Challenge against Barbados starting on Saturday at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre.

Current vice-captain of the West indies team is Guyanese Ramnaresh Sarwan who has not had much experience at captaining any team.