I did not sell out, says Emrit
FORMER CAPTAIN of the Guyana Amazon
Warriors,
Rayad Emrit, is insisting that he did not ‘sell out’ in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final, which his side lost by eight wickets to the Trinbago Knight Riders last Sunday.
Since the loss, Emrit, a Trinidadian, says that he has been the target of online abuse, with persons accusing him of selling out for his T&T compatriots to win.
It was the fourth time the Amazon Warriors had lost in a CPL final.
The 37-year-old was the most expensive bowler in the final, with his three overs costing 47 runs. In his final over, which went for 27 runs, T&T’s Colin Munro belted him for three sixes and one boundary.
SCAPEGOAT
However, while admitting that this year’s CPL tournament was not his best, Emrit said that he was tired of being made a scapegoat.
“I have been through this before – it’s not the first time. Every time Guyana loses, Rayad Emrit gets the blame. I’ve probably seen it and heard it a million times before,” he said.
“Yes, it’s going to be a little negative talk, and yes, it gets to me sometimes because I’m only human. I don’t really follow it on Facebook and social media, but there are a lot of things that come to me without me even looking for it. I’m an Amazon Warrior, and I go out there and
‘To the fans who think I sell out and didn’t give my best, I want to say I love you guys and will always give 150 per cent to you and no matter what...’
give 150 per cent whenever I wear the clothes.
“To the fans who think I sell out and didn’t give my best, I want to say, ‘I love you guys and will always give 150 per cent to you and no matter what, I’m a true Amazon Warrior’,” Emrit added.
The former West Indies player maintained that he always gave of his best whenever he took to the field.
Emrit called for those fans to acknowledge the outstanding performance of the Amazon Warriors instead of looking to blame him.
“I don’t really have to say anything, but I just thought I should. This has been the toughest CPL for me since it has begun. I personally didn’t get the results as a player, and I know I’m much better than what I have shown. But you know what? The best players in the world go through these patches. I don’t even have to say how hard I have worked and all the sacrifices I have made,” he said.