Can't beg people to play for West Indies, if they want to play they will: Phil Simmons

West Indies were subjected to a thrashing by India in their recently concluded T20I series, and head coach Phil Simmons has lamented the unavailability of some of their prominent white-ball cricketers, stating that the administrators won’t beg them to play for the West Indies.

West Indies cricket has suffered greatly in white-ball cricket due to inconsistent performances and the absence of some of their best players, who have opted to participate in franchise cricket instead of donning the maroon jersey.

Global T20 stars, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine are currently featuring in England’s premier domestic white-ball tournament The Hundred; Oshane Thomas and Evin Lewis have not come good in fitness tests, while Sheldon Cottrell, Fabian Allen, and Roston Chase are injured, hindering the Caribbean side’s preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.

The team’s head coach Phil Simmons spoke about players choosing franchise cricket over national duties and made a bold statement saying that he won’t beg them to play for their country. It has to be their decision.

“It hurts. There’s no other way to put it. But what can you do? I don’t think that I should be begging people to play for their countries. I think if you want to represent West Indies, you will make yourself available. Life has changed, in that people have the opportunities to go different places, and if they choose that over West Indies, that’s just how it is,” Simmons was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

I will love everyone to play for West Indies: Desmond Haynes

Andre Russell, one of the most fearsome all-rounders in the shortest format of the game, hasn’t featured for the Men in Maroon since the T20 World Cup last year. Though he has been part of several domestic T20 leagues, he is unavailable for the national team. West Indies chief selector Desmond Haynes is bewildered by the all-rounder’s stance and stated that it is a mystery to him.

“From what I have gathered, I think he is unavailable because he hasn’t made himself available. I will love everyone to play for West Indies. But you must realize that the guys have options now, and if guys are choosing other franchises in front of West Indies, then we have to pick from who is available to us,” Haynes stated.