Wallace questions players’ form ahead of T20 WC
Former West Indies opener Philo Wallace has expressed concern over the current form of several West Indies players ahead of the International Cricket Council’s T20 World Cup starting later this month.
Wallace, who was appearing as a guest on the Bajan radio programme on Tuesday said that he was concerned with the players’ performances during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).
“I would really want to ask the panel if they are honestly watching the IPL. I am realizing some players are now coming down with some injuries, the weather is hot, when you look at some of our cricketers in the IPL, they are not featuring in those franchises, are they match ready when the bell rings on the 23rd of October?” he asked.
“I think when you look at it the squad is there. All of us would like the team to do well because when you look at what is happening in front of us, look at what’s happening now, a number of players are not performing in the IPL and it sends a message are these guys going to be ready?
“You just don’t turn up on a given day and tell me you are going to score a hundred at a World Cup, it is called pressure,” he added.
“We see Chris Gayle has left the bubble. What impact does that have on him and the West Indies squad?” he asked.
He also questioned Andre Russell’s injury status as well as that of Fabian Allen and Nicholas Pooran’s form.
The right hander was not too hard on the selectors though.
“The West Indies selectors have selected a squad and there will always be debate over the squad,” he said.
“The squad is carrying a lot of experience cricketers,” he pointed out.
The 51-year-old Wallace said that if the team does not do well then West Indies will be back to square one because there is not a lot of future in the West Indies World Cup squad.
He accepted that the tournament was not a developmental tournament but contended that West Indies should have been grooming players a long time ago with the next World Cup in Australia next on the list.