"A lot has been happening,"
Darren Sammy says, as he sits down for this interview. It is Tuesday evening and we are in Dubai, where Sammy is playing for Peshawar Zalmi in the inaugural Pakistan Super League. He looks weary and not keen to talk; not the Sammy we are accustomed to, with his sunny smiles and positivity. He reveals that he has been busy in a dialogue with the WICB over player fees for the World T20. Also, obviously with planning for the tournament, in which he will lead West Indies.
Being back as West Indies T20 captain must come as a shot in the arm for you?
People see it as a surprise, but I have been captain of the T20 team since 2010. It is just a continuation. It is my third World Cup [fifth], in a format which we won, and we stand a good chance of winning again. I am always excited about leading, especially the T20 team. It gives me pleasure and joy to captain some of the most sought after T20 players in the world.
Brian Lara has said: watch out for West Indies in the World T20. Between the last tournament and now, what has changed for the team?
We are not often called favourites. The difference now is we have barely played any T20Is since the last World T20. Most of us have not been selected for ODI cricket as well. It is only by playing in different leagues that we continue keeping ourselves match ready.
It is good that we are playing in Dubai [in the PSL], which is similar conditions to India. The experience we have in the dressing room, especially playing in India [in the IPL], will take us a long way. Take it one game at a time and believe we are the best. When it comes to T20 cricket, we are a confident bunch. I remember in 2012 when we won, it was about believing that we could win the World Cup. That was the goal. That was the mission.
read the complete interview at ESPNcricinfo
Full Story
"To not be offered a contract is disappointing. But I have moved on. Last year I have played probably the World Cup and a few T20s. And now we have only been selected for T20s. I have not really represented the West Indies. So I ply my trade in different T20 leagues around the world. That is how I provide for my family."
That is the reality...a number of players in this squad make much more money playing for the T20 leagues than by playing for the WICB.
'Brathwaite just got an IPL contract worth probably $600,000. In this day and age how are you going to manage that? There must be a medium in which all parties can be happy. Because first of all we can't compete with Australia, India and England in terms of the pay structure for their players, who could say, "Okay, this year I don't want to or I can't play the IPL", because they are well looked after by their boards. What happens to other boards that cannot do that? So there must be a medium where both parties are happy.'
Carlos is getting US$600k from the IPL...that's so much more than what the WICB would be paying him.
I did not support him being made Test Captain at the time but I have to say he is pure class. People here should put their insularity and biases aside and read this interview a few times and digest what he is saying.
I played Test cricket. I was given the captaincy at a time when they said they needed stability in West Indies cricket. Four years later I was told I was not needed as a captain and as a player. I was 29, 30 years old. That was the message sent to me. You know, I made myself unavailable [to T20 leagues] for so many years just to make sure I stay home and play for West Indies. I am retired from Test cricket. It is a decision that I don't regret. So I thought I should commit myself to ODI and T20 cricket. Our Test cricket is a reflection of our first-class cricket.
T Are very good interview this. I like how Sammy refrained from attacking directly.
In reply to mikesiva
Check out how the ECB has adapted their stance. They took a lot of flack over KP.
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/feb/11/jos-buttler-ipl-deal-cricket-england
What to make of this drastic shift in policy? Certainly there is a lot to be said for pragmatism and flexibility, special cases being made. Andrew Strauss deserves credit for sticking to his brief of embracing the white-ball world, including relaxation of the key Andy Flower rule that at least one first-class match is required before a player can be considered for selection for Tests, a rule that limited English players to three weeks at the IPL.
He just attacked wid a last over win.
Sammy's contribution over the years is not one that the average cricket fan would regard as stellar!
