IT was not the kind of crowd that the organizer of the protest march Yassy Hippolyte expected. But at least 30 Daren Sammy supporters gathered outside the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground on Tuesday expressing their disappointment over Sammy’s recent sacking as the West Indies T20 skipper.
Under close surveillance by members of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force, the fans were seen holding placards as they expressed their displeasure of the West Indies Cricket Board, its president, Dave Cameron, and chief selector, Courtney Browne.
One supporter said that the WICB consisted of a bunch of fools, who could not see the contribution that Sammy had put in for the team.
The supporter said the WICB should have never taken a decision like this.
“Basically, I am not a lover of cricket, but I am Daren Sammy’s fan. I believe he had contributed a lot for the West Indies cricket. He led them to two consecutive victories in World T20. I think it was a form of disrespect and the move was revenge by these so called selectors. St. Lucians are supposed to take a stand and show the entire world that we will support Daren Sammy. The guy is a good captain and he gave you two championship victories. It is insane. And I think the WICB will get a strong message from our protest.”
The Sammy supporter continued: “Yes Daren might have had couple of bad days, where he gave some bad performances. But he recently played for the St. Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean League and did very well. It is disrespectful for St. Lucians. They say we have one of the best grounds and the Stadium is also being renamed after the guy.”
Meanwhile, another protester also expressed her dissatisfaction with the treatment that the former West Indies T20 skipper had received.
“We are here today to stand in support of Daren Sammy because we feel he was treated badly and in one of the most disrespectful ways by just receiving a 30-second call. A man who brought two World Cups for you, that is the way you turn back and treat him? We are not pleased with the treatment he has received. We are not saying that he should get the captaincy back; we are saying that at least he should remain in the squad. Sammy actually gels the team together. All the commentators and all the people who follow West Indies Cricket and cricket legends would see what Sammy did for that side, except the WICB. So we are here to show our displeasure.”
Meanwhile, Hippolyte told the media that though disappointed by the turn out and the police denying any receipt of their application for the protest this Friday, they will be planning a well-organized protest and a much bigger crowd.
The protesters in question were asked by the police to disperse since they did not have a formal permission to protest . But a high ranking police officer told the VOICE that according to the Public Order Act -one needs to apply to the Commissioner’s Office and the Commissioner will approve or disapprove.
Just before midday, the former West Indies T20 captain arrived outside the DSCG where he was immediately flocked by protesters chanting “We love you, Sammy.”
In a brief interview with members of the media, Sammy said, “At the end of the day any decision taken at an administrative or selection level has nothing to do with the men who play and represent our region.”
The double ICC World T20 champion was thankful for St. Lucians showing their support for him, but noted that the game must go on and they should throw their support behind the West Indies team currently playing against India. India leads the four match Test series 1 – 0.
Meanwhile, Carlos Brathwaite, the man who hit four consecutives sixes to seal the West Indies’ World T20 Cup triumph earlier this year, has been named as captain of the 13-member squad which will play two Twenty20 internationals versus India in Florida on August 27 and 28.
The WICB selection panel headed by Courtney Browne has included all the big names in the squad, including power-hitter Chris Gayle, but left out Daren Sammy who had led the team to two World T20 titles in 2012 and 2016.
According to the Chairman of selectors, the squad has been selected purely on players’ performances. The selection panel expressed its thanks to Sammy, for his leadership in the T20 format of the game and the two World Championship titles in 2012 and earlier this year.
The T20 squad reads – Carlos Brathwaite (captain), Andre Fletcher, Andre Russell, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Evin Lewis, Jason Holder, Johnson Charles, Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, Marlon Samuels, Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine