GCB says Permaul omission ‘disturbing’, seeks explanation from CWI
The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has slammed Verasammy Permaul’s exclusion from the West Indies squad to tour England as “disturbing” and has formally written to Cricket West Indies (CWI) requesting an explanation.
The 30-year-old left-arm spinner topped the bowling charts with 50 wickets at an average of just under 13 in the recently concluded domestic first-class championship but was ignored in the 14-man squad and the 11 reserves – a decision the GCB said had left it “bewildered”.
Barbados Pride’s Jomel Warrican was chosen as the sole left-arm spinner in the contingent despite managing just 13 wickets from six games.
“The Guyana Cricket Board hereby expresses its bewilderment on the omission of Veerasammy Permaul from the Windies upcoming tour of England,” the GCB said in a release.
PERCEIVES PERFORMANCES
“Permaul’s outstanding performances over the years have spoken for itself, and the GCB perceives performances are the strongest criteria for selection.
“In so doing, the GCB acknowledges that Permaul’s performances year after year has not only been exceptional, but unquestionable; and as such we are of the opinion that he should have been selected in the Windies squad.”
The statement continued: “The GCB finds Permaul’s omission from a West Indies Test squad of 25 is very disturbing and as a result, the president of the GCB, Fizul Bacchus, has since written to Johnny Grave, chief executive officer of Cricket West Indies, requesting a logical explanation.
“The GCB implores Veerasammy Permaul to stay motivated and committed and wishes him continued success in his cricket endeavours.”
Permaul has taken 18 wickets from six Tests but played the last of those matches five years ago, and has been repeatedly overlooked ever since, despite outstanding performances each season.
In fact, he picked up 42 wickets in the 2018-19 campaign, 50 wickets in the 2017 season and was also good enough to claim 41 scalps in the 2016 first-class tournament.
Overall, Permaul boasts 536 firstclass wickets at an average of 20.
Warrican, 28, has been the Windies’ preferred left-arm spin option in recent times, and was part of the squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in India last November.