Richards: That’s pushing it in my opinion. It’s pushing it in a very big way.
Former West Indies captain Sir Vivian Richards believes head coach Daren Sammy crossed the line with his recent comments regarding the reason for Alzarri Joseph’s absence from the just-concluded Pakistan Tests.
Sammy told reporters on the eve of the first contest that Joseph “declined selection,” in conflict with Cricket West Indies’ earlier release, which stated that the fast bowler was “unavailable for selection due to personal reasons.”
Sir Viv says if Sammy’s comments were exaggerated in any way, it may have a lasting effect on Joseph’s future.
“This sometimes hampers guys’ professional careers; such statements, if they're not true and stuff like that, a lot of things linger,” he told the Antigua Observer.
The Jamaica Kingsmen have partnered with Triple Gold Rums Limited and its recently launched premium spirits brand, Rich Rum, founded by cricket icon Chris Gayle, for the 2026 and 2027 seasons of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
The two-year agreement will see Rich Rum serve as the exclusive rum partner for the Kingsmen’s home matches at Sabina Park, starting with the franchise’s four home games from August 11 to 18.
Gayle, who captained the Jamaica Tallawahs to two titles in five seasons, said the partnership with the Kingsmen was an opportunity to support Jamaican cricket and help restore the country’s place among the leading franchises in the region.
“I am very proud to support Jamaican cricket at Sabina Park through our partnership with the Jamaica Kingsmen,” Gayle said. “Sabina Park has a rich history and holds many fond memories for me. I can’t wait to return to and enjoy our great-tasting, single-estate, triple-distilled, 100% Jamaican Rich Rum while cheering on the Jamaica Kingsmen in their quest for a CPL championship.”
The league is aiming for the practice to become a permanent one
The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will partner with regional health authorities and non-governmental organisations to provide free health testing for fans at all eight of its host venues this season, as part of the tournament's ongoing support for the fight against non-communicable diseases. The programme will see CPL use its reach to signpost fans toward appropriate health services, with organisers planning for the initiative to become a permanent fixture of the tournament calendar.
The initiative will run across Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago, with health professionals stationed at CPL venues throughout the tournament.
Services will include vital signs screening covering blood pressure, blood glucose testing, Body Mass Index (BMI) assessment, urinalysis, and PSA testing.
King-less line-up gave the bowlers little to work with on Queen’s Park turner
Result, Day 4: Pakistan 387 & 77 for 2 (Babar 24*, Shafique 24*; Seales 1-9) beat West Indies 344 & 117 all out (Hodge 34, Chanderpaul 17; Sajid 4-32) by 8 wickets
Needing just 75 runs for victory, a leisurely approach from the Pakistan batters meant Day 4 spilt over into the afternoon session. West Indies had earlier batted for half an hour, adding 14 to their overnight 103 for six before losing their last three available wickets.
Ali Usman (4/39) removed Kemar Roach for a duck, and Shamar Joseph (9) to match Sajid Khan’s four-for, crucially keeping the Windies lower-order quiet and dismissing the hosts for 117.
Despite losing Imam-ul-Haq (9) and Azan Awais (18) to the Windies quicks, first-innings centurion Abdullah Shafique and captain Babar Azam made identical scores of 24 in an unbroken 35-run third-wicket stand to see the visitors to a series-levelling win at 77 for two.
The 1-1 result snapped an eight-game losing streak away from home for Pakistan while simultaneously prolonging the West Indies’ 26-year wait for a series win over the visitors.
Australian all-rounder Chris Green has been appointed captain of the Barbados Tridents for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League season. The 32-year-old replaces Rovman Powell, who returns to his home franchise, the Jamaica Kingsmen, after three seasons in Barbados.
Green has previously skippered the Sydney Thunder in Australia's Big Bash League and the Birmingham Bears in England’s Vitality Blast. He also has leadership experience in the CPL, standing in to lead the Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2018 before being given the role full-time in 2020.
“It is a real honour to captain the Barbados Tridents,” Green said. “Having been part of the squad last year, I understand what this team means to Barbados and its supporters.”
The team has been emphasising its local roots and influence this off-season, the year of the country’s 60th Independence, which has led to a return to its original Tridents tag after rebranding as the Royals five years ago.
