“Knives for Roger Harper and his hallucinating band of selectors, aren't yet drawn. But surely, they are being sharpened!"

Those were the words of the seasoned Jamaican cricket journalist Ray Ford, in reaction to the storm of controversy that has been created as a result of the choices made by Selections’ Chair Roger Harper and his Panel for the West Indies official squad of 15 plus four reserves to participate in the forthcoming ICC 2021 T20 World Cup. The 2021 ICC T20 World Cup will be held in the UAE from October 17 – November 13.

Further revelations from the most recent episodes of the West Indies World Cup Squad “selections fiasco,” would now suggest that the sharpened knives have since not only been drawn but that it is now only a matter of time before they are used to pierce the tenure of Roger Harper, Miles Bascome and Head Coach Phil Simmons as members of the West Indies Selections Panel with terminal effect!

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) was among the first to publicly question the Panel’s competence. Angered by the Selections Panel’s omission of Sherfayne Rutherford on the grounds of his not having met the established fitness criteria, the GCB suggested that Cricket West Indies (CWI) should advise the Caribbean cricket public regarding the standard and schedule for fitness tests for regional cricketers.

Stating that the Selections Panel has disappointed both Guyana and the Caribbean at large while referring to its decisions as a “selection fiasco,” the GCB called for the Panel to be made accountable to all cricket institutions and stakeholders in the region and to justify its choices.

“Failure to do so, the GCB calls on CWI to dismiss the Selections Panel and to replace it with a more competent one which will represent the best interests of West Indies cricket!”

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In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Most aged and unfit team in the T-20 World Cup.... tough time hiding these players in the field....why blame Harper only....Selector cum Head Coach Simmons should also be answerable ....Be that as it may...if West Indies does well , only then.the administrators and management should be retained..... otherwise, wholesale changes.... Selectors & Management.....most players aging & unfit .... will retire after the T-20 World Cup.... irrespective of results...

In reply to Onionman0

Remember unlike previous administrations, the new mantra of Prez and this new administration, is for selection of only the best players for any West Indies team based on performance, regardless of age and island of origin. An argument could certainly be made on behalf of young Rutherford but the nucleus of the team selection was made based on performance and prior experience and we have to be careful about any quick discarding of our T20 performers, for recent WI Test experience has taught us that rapid discarding of seasoned players without suitable replacements, will create a void and disasterous team performances during matches.

In reply to Slipfeeler

excellent comment.....the fans of cameron who are pissed he's gone and the gravy train has ended, conveniently for get that holder's team won test series only against england, a feat that Gayle as captain also achieved....yes they have won tests in england, on either side of being uncompetitive for the rest of the series. And they were whitewashed in bangladesh. the team was picked on performance

In reply to Jumpstart

Some WI fans tend to have selective memories, especially concerning specific players!

In reply to Onionman0

I have a feeling Cappo got the team he wanted!

If he wins the cup with that team, then he should be praised.

if not....

In reply to Slipfeeler

Agree partly...... ... remember Russell fiasco during World Cup 2019.....one or two aging performing players should be enough....team shouldn't be overloaded with unfit players....it's not only about bowling or batting..... fielding is absolutely essential....Gayle,Ravi, Russell,Bravo....10 extra runs..... Administration piss poor...once a criteria is fixed be it fitness,age or performance.... selection should stick to it....

In reply to googley

Agree....Cappo + Head Coach cum selector...

DISBAND THIS SELECTION PANEL PRONTO....AND INVESTIGATE DEM TO BOOT !!!!

i HAVE ASKED THIS QUESTION FOR YEARS AND NO ONE CAN ANSWER

How does one become a selector?
What are the qualifications?
Does one apply for the position?
If not, what is the selection of selectors'process? Nominations?
Who selects the selctors?
What is the pay for selectors?Perks?
Does a selector have to be computer literate and therefore can access the players' stats easily?

In reply to googley

Agreed, if WI does not win, there will be rumblings!!

So WI supporters are in a conundrum.

For the selection debacle, wishing that the team fails.

Indeed some selections were appauling.

Even Kieron Pollard haven't gotten great distaste for. His arrogance and bullying doesn't help his case at all.

In reply to InHindsight

I am not a fan of Harper and his selectors but this time I give them credit for picking a very good team. I am a very strong fan of Holder but to be fair to the selectors I find Holder was very lucky to be included in the reserve and that I guess is due to the respect they have for him. We just had a number of T20 games in the CPL, where players either confirmed their selection or made a claim. Unfortunately Holder did none! Holder could only be picked as an all rounder and in the 8 or so games he played he never had a 50, a 4wicket match or won man of the match! In fact his highest score was 34 and only once he took 3/9 in a low scoring game. Apart from that 3/9, Holder had an economy rate of over 7 in every game and at times over 12. So on what basis he gets picked as an all rounder ahead of Pollard, Bravo or Russell? Why is he even on the reserve ahead of Shepherd, Drakes or Smith? Only for the high respect we all have for Holder man. He failed himself and his failure was the main reason why the Royals ended in last place

I am a strong fan of Holder but he left himself out this time. Here are his performances with bat and ball in his 10 CPL games this year:
August 26: He scored 10 runs in 14 balls and gave 45 runs in 4 overs
August 27:3 runs in 4 balls in his 4 overs gave up 30 runs.
August 28:12 runs in 12balls and 3overs he gave up 22 runs.
August 31: 0 runs/ 2balls and in 4 overs gave 44 runs
September 2:19 runs in 7 balls and in 3 overs he gave up 22 runs
September 4: Scored 9 runs in 14 balls and in 2 overs he gave up 22 runs
September 7. Scored 22 runs in 7 balls and gave up 28 runs in 4 overs
September 9, had a 3 ball duck and in 3 overs gave up 9 runs.
September 11 scored 34 runs in 24 balls and in his 4 overs gave up 40 runs
September 12 He didn't bowl and didn't bat.
Why should he be selected?

In reply to Sylobaby

aiite list the performances of Dont Blush UB, Oshane, Walsh, Russell, Fletcher, Little Idiot,.

Mind you the pundits stress JHo is a proven T20 performer despite slim pickings in recent CPL

In reply to googley

Another attack on the Trinis

In reply to Raisedseam

The world cup is about stars. Dont Blush UB has name recognition, and therefore is exempt from the fitness criteria that the other Mortals have to meet. Only in Windies cricket this stuff happens.

It amazes me how Rutherford has had about four or five good T20 innings in his T20 career and all of a sudden he should be an automatic pick for a World Cup? In 72 matches he has passed 50 five times - and most of that came this CPL. He then faded off. Is this what we have become where we bash our selectors for not considering a person who has three or so good games in one CPL season as a automatic pick? People behaving like Rutherford has kicked down the door with a multitude of performances. He has not. Let's hope he continues to improve and will eventually make the team, but to suggest that at this stage he should have been an automatic pick to the World Cup is a load of bull.

In reply to b4u8me2

Those who miss out this year have another WC next year. So let them continue to perform.

In reply to b4u8me2