[www.inewsguyana.com] – Guyana’s Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) says it is shocked and disappointed with the Clive Lloyd headed West Indies selection panel over the non-selection of left arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul to replace Sunil Narine who pulled out of the regional squad for the World Cup starting later this month.
BCB, in a statement, says it is puzzled by the selection of Jamaican left-arm spinner Nikita Miller over Permaul and has called on Lloyd and his team to be consistent with their selection policy.
The Cricker Board was confident that Permaul, described as a fast improving bowler, would have been the obvious choice when Narine announced his withdrawal.
Miller, a seasoned Jamaican spinner, has not played for West Indies in nearly a year but has the experience of 45 One-Day Internationals, where he has taken 40 wickets.
Narine pulled out of the World Cup squad, citing the need to continue work on his bowling.
He has been doing remedial work on his bowling ever since being reported for having a suspected illegal action during the Champions League Twenty20 in September last year.
The BCB, formed in 1939 and backed by three associations and 13 clubs, has suggested that the selection of Miller was a contradiction in light of public comments attributed to Lloyd stating that it was time to rebuild West Indies cricket with younger players who perform consistently.
The 25-year-old Permaul is the leading bowler in the Four-Day Franchise after the first phase of four rounds with 32 wickets.
32-year-old Miller is ninth on the list of Most Wickets. BCB’s criticism of Lloyd comes four months after the board publicly praised his appointment as chairman of West Indies selection panel. (CMC)
