WEST INDIES CRICKET POLITICS

Phil Simmons: Outside interference kept Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard out

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

Both Bravo and Pollard were ignored for the 2015 World Cup. © Cricbuzz

West Indies coach Phil Simmons regretted the fact that external influences did not allow the re-inclusion of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard in the ODI squad. West Indies are touring Sri Lanka for a one-month tour that begins from October 14 and includes two Tests, three ODIs and two T20Is.

Simmons, who took charge of the West Indies squad after the 2015 World Cup, said that the Chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd and captain Jason Holder wanted to include Bravo and Pollard in the squad but certain people used their influence to overrule the decision.

Speaking to the reporters on the final day of the West Indies camp at the 3Ws Oval in Barbados criticized the interference and went on to say that such politics has kept West Indies from having their best squad. However, he did not specify who exactly was responsible for the politics.

"I think it's disappointing from the fact that I haven't got the best 50-over ODI squad that we can select in the Caribbean," a furious Simmons said. "The chairman, Mr Lloyd, he came and he gave an exceptional speech saying that he thinks it is time they are back in the squad and he gave exceptional reasons for them being back in the squad."

"Unfortunately, when we went into the selection (meeting), we lost it 2-3. Him and myself - the captain doesn't have a vote in this - but the captain also gave his views as why they need to be back," he added.

"That's not the disappointing fact, the disappointing fact is that you can lose 3-2 in a vote-off but there is too much interference from outside in the selection of the ODI squad and it's disappointing for me to know that in any aspect of life (people would use) their position to get people into a squad for in this case, get people left out of a squad. It is wrong and I don't like it and that is my beef with the selection of the ODI team."

Both Bravo and Pollard were dropped from the ODI team after the series against South Africa in January and were also not included in the 2015 World Cup squad. This decision invoked the wrath of critics, who alleged that this discrimination was largely based on both players abandoning the ODI tour to India last October.

"I don't think that it (selection) was done as professionally as it should be done, (there was) too much interference from outside and in this case, I even go as far as saying maybe influence because the reasons that were given for them being out," Simmons lashed out. "It's disappointing for me because we want to have our best squad, the chairman put it to us that we need to have our best squad and it's not so, so I'm disappointed about that squad."

© Cricbuzz (with inputs from agencies)