Shivnarine Chanderpaul gets major backing in Brian Lara

“This has nothing to do with numbers or averages. What are they saying that Chanderpaul was given the last 11 innings to get the desired number of runs to break a record? From Guyana in 1994 when he made his debut to his last Test innings he gave his heart to West Indies cricket and what do we do… drop him and that’s it. This has absolutely nothing to do with runs or numbers. It has to do with respect and Chanderpaul has earned the right to say goodbye in an acceptable way. In fact, he should be allowed to do it in his own way,” he said.

Lara might have expressed his anger against WICB but it’s the cricketers who were also instrumental in taking the decision. Lloyd, the chairman of selectors, took the call and it was backed up by the coach Simmons.

Speaking to Australian Associated Press, Simmons said: “You talk about giving him two Tests to say goodbye. He’s had a long and illustrious career and we know that he’s done a lot for West Indies cricket but at the same time when we sit down to select a team, we sit down to select a team to win a game against Australia. When you go through that process, he didn’t fit in. It’s not about giving someone two Tests to finish their career, it’s about picking the best team to play in the next game.”

Tendulkar comparison

Meanwhile, Lara sought comparisons with the way Sachin Tendulkar was handed a farewell series by the Indian cricket board. “What did they (India) do? They organised a Test series in Tendulkar’s honour and gave him a farewell in keeping with his contribution to the game.”

Lara wants Chanderpaul also to be given a farewell series. “In that way, there will be no hostility and whether he makes a double century or a duck, it doesn’t matter, it will be his farewell series and the entire cricketing world will know that. He deserves it. The WICB and the Caribbean owe it to Shiv to send him off with dignity and respect. He has earned it,” added Lara.

Lara said it was time the WICB started respecting the contribution of its great players. “The manner in which they deal with their players is despicable and should no longer be tolerated. When you look back to so many of our heroes and the manner in which they were dumped, it makes you shudder.”

Chanderpaul’s fans too are trying to rally around their man. An online petition from a fan demanding the inclusion of Chanderpaul for the series against Australia is doing the rounds.

A fan of Chanderpaul with a username Guyanes Realest has started a petition at change.org and has managed to secure over 1600 votes “Yes, Shiv may have fallen down in the last three Test matches, but there are so many players who are on the squad that have been under-performing and are still selected. It therefore makes the millions of cricket lovers all over the world who adore Shiv question the real reason behind the decision.

“Shiv has said that he does not want an elaborate ceremony that will cost lots of money to honour him, all he wants is to play these two matches and that will be his fitting send off. It is heartbreaking to know that this legend is being treated as if his entire career has been irrelevant and he doesn’t deserve a mere two test matches, the petition stated.

“As such we appeal to the selectors to please overturn and rethink the decision immediately and kindly give the player that we all love and respect the opportunity to play in these two matches and retire on his own accord,” the petition added.