Alzarri Joseph responded to Daren Sammy’s remark that he had “declined selection” for the West Indies’ Test series against Pakistan at home, stating that the head coach’s words were “controversial, without context.
“I spoke with the head coach. I also spoke with CWI, and as you may recall, the statement CWI made stated that it was done for personal reasons. Mr Sammy, having been around for a long time, understands exactly what that statement would have done, so, to be honest, I have nothing to say to Mr Sammy about his statement,” Joseph stated on the Antigua Observer’s Good Morning Jojo Sports Show.
“As I have stated, he understands exactly what that statement would have accomplished and the narrative it would have promoted in the public.
The series squad was named on July 23, and Joseph, according to a CWI statement, was unavailable due to “personal reasons”. The very following day, Sammy stated at a press conference, “Mr Alzarri Joseph has declined selection. That is the reality of the issue. He was picked. I mean, he’s coming back from an injury. Since then, he has declined the option.
I am a professional, so I will go to work. I’m representing the West Indies. I’m not representing Daren Sammy, so I’m neither here nor there when it comes to a partnership.”
Alzarri Joseph explained that a stress fracture in his lower back caused him to miss tours of India and New Zealand before returning for the Tests against Sri Lanka in June this year, making him cautious. He had been out of action for about a year.
Obviously, I had been out for a year. “I haven’t played at international level in so long after suffering a second stress fracture,” Joseph explained.
“We talked about me playing two Tests here, five back-to-back ODIs [against New Zealand earlier this month], and how my body was doing, and I knew I wasn’t ready for another Test series. So, the assertion is contentious without context.”
Will Sammy’s declaration and Alzarri Joseph’s reaction hinder future collaboration?
I am a professional, so I will go to work. I’m representing the West Indies. I’m not representing Daren Sammy, so I’m not involved in a relationship,” Joseph explained. “I do not go there to make friends. I go there to do my job and represent the people of the West Indies.”
The West Indies are up 1-0 in the two-match Test series against Pakistan, with the second test beginning on Sunday. Their next assignment is a limited-overs series in India from September to October.
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