#BTSpeakingOut – Torn between two outcomes

The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

by C. A. Cumberbatch

As a cricket fan I am torn between wanting to see the West Indies do well in the ICC T20 World Cup which starts this weekend and not being averse to them being thrashed for the foolishness of Roger Harper and his co-selectors.

Not only have we taken an aging team to the World Cup, we have taken some that have done nothing to merit their places in the United Arab Emirates.

Andre Fletcher is a top order batsman in every formatand opens in white ball cricket so he has ample time
to construct an innings.

Yet at the international level he averages 14.16 in ODI cricket after 25 matches and 21. 11 in 54 T20Is and was still put on a plane to represent the West Indies.

The selectors could have gone on Blenheim pasture and select the first person they see, male or female, young or old, and that person would have been a better choice.

The selection of Oshane Thomas baffles me. I believe he should have been among the reserves or chosen as a net bowler. The omission of Jason Holder from the main party defies logic.

That omission was so ridiculous that it has moved former great players and even our knowledgeable prime minister to ask questions.

Despite his wickets in the CPL, Ravi Rampaul is a liability in the field and with ball in hand.

Yes, I would love the team to win but that would give justification to the nonsense of the selectors.

We will see how it goes.