I know I'm closer to retirement but I would love to finish in front of my St Lucian fans: Daren Sammy

During his stint with the national team, skipper Daren Sammy had to encounter many questions over his place in the squad. After his journey with West Indies, 36-year-old Sammy is currently at the helm of St Lucia Zouks in the CPL and things aren’t too different.

The veteran has managed to amass just 34 runs in nine innings at an average of 5.66. To plunge more misery, he hasn’t delivered with the ball too, bowling just two overs and giving up 19 runs for one wicket. Despite Sammy’s lean patch, Zouks have made the playoffs for only the second time in their CPL history.

Sammy, termed as an ‘inspirational figure’ by St Lucia Zouks head coach Andy Flower, conceded that CPL retirement has crossed his mind. But he would like to finish in front of his home fans in St Lucia at the stadium named after him. Sammy, who’ll turn 37 next year, had donned the coach’s hat at Peshawar Zalmi this year after giving up the captaincy during PSL 2020.

It all depends on how hard I work after this: Daren Sammy

“I’m pretty sure this year if we were playing in front of the crowd and I get to play in front of my home fans in St Lucia, I probably would’ve called it [a day] – like I always say; that’s it. I still have some time and I would really love to finish in front of St Lucia and my St Lucian fans at home and bow out at the Daren Sammy cricket ground.

But, it all depends on how hard I work after this. If we win the cup, I will definitely have a think about it. I know I’m closer to retirement than playing more T20 cricket – that’s the truth,” said Sammy as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

In the wake of coronavirus pandemic, the entire CPL 2020 has been played behind closed doors in Trinidad. League leaders Trinbago Knight Riders, who were equipped with several Trinidad-based players had a home advantage. Moreover, some of their players were also allowed to remain outside the bio-bubble. On the contrary, rest of the sides were confined to their hotel rooms. Sammy, while expressing his dissatisfaction over the same, said that one country (Trinidad) shouldn’t be getting the preference all the time.

“I was very vocal in my dissatisfaction of what I was seeing in terms of bubble – guys having access to training and facilities every day when others were not,” Sammy said. “I questioned that but one thing I didn’t question is the availability of cricket for all those probably 160 cricketers that are here showcasing their talent.

Now if, let’s say next year, we still have to play in one country, I know for sure it can’t be Trinidad. You’ve got to share the love somewhere else – whether St Kitts, whether St Lucia – and we can come back. And one country can’t seem to be getting all the love all the time. That’s what I’ll say on that,” he added.