Michail Antonio's former coach Martin Allen paid an emotional tribute to the West Ham forward after his horrific car accident.
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GOAL examines possible landing spots for Pepi, as the USMNT striker has been subject to Premier League, Ligue 1 interest
Ricardo Pepi might be on the move. Sources close to the player confirmed to GOAL last week that the USMNT striker is the subject of concrete interest from other clubs – with at least one team bidding in excess of $20 million to secure his services. Other offers, reportedly from both France and England, are likely to come.
And that's where this all gets interesting. Pepi has excelled for PSV this season, scoring 12 and assisting three in just five starts. He is averaging 1.68 goal contributions per 90 minutes. Those are the elite numbers of a ruthlessly efficient center forward. In other words, any club would be delighted to have him. But where, exactly, would he fit?
It's important to identify some criteria. Pepi will want to go somewhere that offers a higher level of competition than the Eredivisie. He will also likely want consistent minutes, as well as a path to first team football. It is also, of course, in his interest to avoid a club that might be fighting relegation. A team that plays good football that will afford him goalscoring opportunities would also be ideal.
With all that in mind, GOAL examines the best landsping spots for Pepi should he make a marquee move away from PSV.
Tottenham chiefs have now put a "fantastic" mainstay player up for sale this summer, with Ange Postecoglou's rebuild seemingly in full effect.
Technical director Johan Lange and the wider Spurs recruitment team have already agreed to a host of senior players leaving N17, and it is believed that a few members of Postecoglou's squad could follow them.
Tottenham officials set for talks with £24m forward who troubled van Dijk
He was a nightmare for the Liverpool defender recently.
By
Emilio Galantini
Jul 23, 2024
Girona are in talks to sign out-of-favour Spurs winger Bryan Gil, according to reliable media sources like Fabrizio Romano and Paul O'Keefe, while Richarlison is believed to be attracting interest from Saudi Arabia.
Uncertainty also surrounds the future of Giovani Lo Celso, who was given few opportunities under Postecoglou last term when his preferred starters were fit and available.
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Tottenham's best-performing players in the Premier League last season |
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Son Heung-min |
7.30 |
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James Maddison |
7.17 |
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Pedro Porro |
7.05 |
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Cristian Romero |
7.04 |
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Dejan Kulusevski |
7.03 |
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Ratings via WhoScored |
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Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has joined Marseille on an initial loan deal, which will become permanent for £17 million next summer (Sky Sports), with the Dane joining Ryan Sessegnon, Japhet Tanganga, Eric Dier, Ivan Perisic, Tanguy Ndombele and Joe Rodon who are already out of the door.
A few surprising names have been linked with exits as well, including Son Heung-min. The South Korea superstar's contract is set to expire next summer as things stand, with Saudi side Al-Ahli registering an interest in signing Son as a result.
Chairman Daniel Levy is highly unlikely to consider selling the 32-year-old, we believe, given his importance to Postecoglou. Following these exits, Spurs have reinvested the cash in signing Archie Gray from Leeds United for £40 million, and secured a season-long extension on Timo Werner's loan deal before that.
Tottenham are rumoured to be in the market for an attacking signing before deadline day on August 30, though, so Levy and Lange could be biding their time before making more formal moves towards the end of the window.
As Postecoglou's overhaul continues to take shape, a new report from Italy has now claimed that mainstay winger Dejan Kulusevski could be sold. The Swede played 36 Premier League games last season, starting 31 of them and racking up 11 goal contributions in that time, becoming a regular under the Spurs boss.
According to Calciomercato.it, Tottenham chiefs consider Kulusevski up for sale, despite his first-team status, and former Lilywhites boss Antonio Conte could potentially look to sign him for Napoli.
The £110,000-per-week winger was signed on an initial loan deal on January deadline day in 2022, which later became permanent in the summer of 2023, but it appears the north Londoners are now open to offers for Kulusevski.
It remains to be seen if anything comes from this report, or if Spurs would demand a marquee fee for the 24-year-old with four years still remaining on his contract. The element of Conte's interest isn't entirely surprising, though, as the Italian has expressed his admiration for Kulusevski on more than one occasion.
“I think he is showing that he is a fantastic player for the present but also he if he continues in this way he can become a really important player,” said Conte on Kulusevski in 2022.
“He is strong physically, good technically; he has no fear of the opponent or the tackle. It is a good sign, with Harry and Son, also Lucas Moura and Bergwijn, offensively we are good, and I am happy for this.”
A 97-run opening stand from Hazratullah Zazai and Mohammad Haris took Zalmi to 193, and Kings never got going in the chase
Danyal Rasool13-Feb-2022
Lahore Qalandars have had a few shocking seasons in the PSL, but as the worst ever PSL side, this Karachi Kings unit would take some beating. Well, they took some beating today against Peshawar Zalmi, the side second from bottom this season, with Zalmi thrashing them by 55 runs. It was illustrative of the gulf between the Kings and every other side this competition, and while Babar Azam’s men still aren’t mathematically out after six defeats on the trot, the math you’d need to do to place them in the top four simply isn’t worth doing.Zalmi’s win was set up by 20-year old opener Mohammad Haris, who played the role of senior partner alongside Hazratullah Zazai. Imad Wasim was smashed off the first ball Haris faced as a signal of intent, and while the Afghan struggled for rhythm, the young Haris was finding the middle of the bat exceptionally cleanly. The duo scampered along to 97 in the first ten overs, with Haris finally dismissed for a 27-ball 49 as he tried to reverse-sweep Mohammad Nabi.The spell of play that followed saw the Kings pull Zalmi back a bit, with the boundaries drying up as the run rate dipped. Qasim Akram struck to remove Zazai for 52 and Shoaib Malik took his time bedding in. But Babar’s bowlers lost their lengths and discipline in the final four overs, and Cutting and Rutherford were there to punish them. A total of 51 came off the final four overs, and all of the Kings’ hopes of reining in the Zalmi innings had been dashed.But if the Kings’ execution with the ball was careless, their approach to the chase was unforgivable. Just 12 were scored off the first three overs, two of them bowled by part-timer Malik, with Sharjeel and Babar mystifyingly shelving aggression and unleashing conservatism instead. The run rate had crept above 10 already; it would never go back into single figures again.Amazingly, still, the Kings barely seemed to play a shot in anger, seemingly content with a thumping defeat as long as they weren’t bowled out. Sharjeel was removed by Salman Irshad early, and while Babar stuck around to score 59, it was little use to his side. He had simply scratched around and taken 46 balls to get there, never once seeming to appreciate the urgency that a serious chase would require. There was even time for farce when, trapped plumb in front, he opted to review, and walked off before the ball tracking even confirmed what had been obvious to the naked eye.He wasn’t the only one at fault, though. The malaise appears to have spread through the side, with Joe Clarke similarly struggling to find any rhythm whatsoever. He nudged and nirdled his way to a run-a-ball 26 before fellow Englishman Liam Livingstone cleaned him up to put him out of his misery.But it didn’t matter, because the Kings had accepted their fate long ago. Zalmi were professional, and that’s all they needed to be against this broken husk of a side. They may not be out yet, but as they hobbled to 138 by the end, you can almost feel they wish they were.
“There are some general guidelines that are required, but we’re asking players and teams to just be sensible,” says Geoff Allardice
Shashank Kishore28-Feb-2022Strict bio-bubbles and daily Covid tests have been done away with for the 2022 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, with the ICC planning to stage the tournament in a “managed environment” instead. The rules have been put in place after considering the fact that all teams and officials in the host country would have undergone Mandatory Isolation Quarantine (MIQ) upon arrival.”I think the approach is around having a managed environment around the tournament,” ICC chief executive Geoff Allardice explained in a chat with the media. “Testing will be infrequent; it won’t be daily testing. It’s really about players taking responsibility knowing they are in the country for a month and living away for that period not locked into a very tight bubble. It’s not going to be practical; it’s certainly not going to allow teams to play their best on the field.Related
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Lanning: Nine players at the WC would be 'interesting'
“There are some general guidelines that are required, but we’re asking players and teams to just be sensible, stay away from areas that are likely to create transmission. The other thing is, we found out in last few tournaments – like at the Under-19 World Cup [in the Caribbean in January-February] – is even though we had number of positive tests, the number of people displaying symptoms were very low. We want to focus on keeping people safe and healthy. It’s a bit of a change from where we may have been six months ago.”Allardice stressed on how tough the logistics of ensuring all teams reach New Zealand – whose borders are only partially open – first and then facilitating adequate preparation time following MIQs have been.”In November, the New Zealand government increased quarantine period to ten days, so we added extra time for teams to prepare. Then it went back to seven days. So, logistically, it has been challenging with dates and timings,” Allardice said. “They are now restrictions on number of people who can attend matches. We’re hopeful as the situation unfolds, we might be able to get a higher capacity at venues during the second half of the tournament.”With Covid still a major concern, the ICC has tweaked the playing conditions to ensure that all games go ahead as planned. One of the measures is to allow teams to take the field if they have a minimum of nine fit players available. Teams have been allowed extra travelling reserves to prevent such a scenario from cropping up.Allardice said learnings from staging the qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe last November, and the men’s Under-19 World Cup this year, had been taken into consideration while formulating regulations for this tournament.”I hope it doesn’t apply,” he said. “It was something we had to do over the last few months since the Omicron outbreak. In almost all of our tournaments, we have been challenged with number of players being unavailable due to isolation for positive Covid tests. We had quite a close call in the West Indies with the men’s Under-19 World Cup, where a number of teams had outbreaks.”We needed to have some contingency plans. I know they have attracted a bit of attention, but in terms of having to think these things through, how you give teams the best chance to prepare knowing what might happen, that’s the reason we came up with that protocol. The bottom line is, we want 11 vs 11. We have squads of 15, all teams are travelling with reserve players as a contingency.”The announcement or introduction of those protocols was very much given the uncertainty of the event we were dealing with. We had the Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe where one team was marginal in terms of players available for some of the matches. We had the same situation at the Under-19 World Cup [in the Caribbean]. Fingers crossed we don’t have to get anywhere near it. But there may be situations where if a team doesn’t have an XI available, we needed protocols to deal with that.”
Headingley permitted to host New Zealand Test and South Africa ODI after suspension lifted
ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2022Yorkshire’s right to host international fixtures has been reinstated by the ECB, on the proviso that the club’s members desist from blocking reforms introduced in the wake of the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal, and that the influence of the family trust run by the former chairman, Colin Graves, is removed.Assuming these requirements can be met by March 31, Headingley will be able to resume preparations for hosting this summer’s third Test against New Zealand in June, and an ODI against South Africa in July – lucrative contests that Lord Kamlesh Patel, the chairman, had warned were fundamental to the club’s financial viability.”I welcome this decision and thank the Board of the ECB for supporting the return of international matches at Headingley once again,” Lord Patel said in a statement. “We have worked night and day to bring about tangible change at Yorkshire, and the removal of the sanctions has validated and reignited our drive for positive progress.”Rafiq said that he supported the ECB’s decision, saying that under Lord Patel, Yorkshire have “shown a real willingness to change and have already come a long way”.”This is the correct decision by the ECB,” he twetted. “His [Lord Patel’s] leadership has earned the club another chance but the reforms must continue and we must see real change.”Yorkshire was stripped of its major-match-hosting status in November, following a wave of revelations about the club’s long-suppressed investigation into allegations of institutional racism – including the suggestion, reported by ESPNcricinfo, that the racial slur “P**i” had been considered to be “banter” within the team dressing-room.At the height of the crisis, the club was also hit by a mass exodus of club sponsors – including Emerald Publishing, Headingley’s title sponsor, and Nike, the team’s kit suppliers – and the reinstatement of their major-match status will also enable them to rebuild that portfolio, particularly in the lead-up to the 2023 season, when the club is due to host a lucrative Ashes Test.In a statement, the ECB acknowledged “the hard work and good progress made by the club”, after reviewing a written submission from Yorkshire officials at a formal meeting last week, and an independent assessment from the Good Governance Institute & Howard Kennedy LLP.Overall, the ECB assessed that Yorkshire was able to “show a demonstrable commitment to building a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion”; provide “evidence that it is adopting a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination”; “commit to identifying and tackling historic cases of discrimination”; and “ensure that Yorkshire County Cricket Club is a welcoming environment for everyone”.However, clear issues still remain at the club, not least those pertaining to Lord Patel’s appointment as chairman in November – an issue that was deemed by a section of club members, led by Patel’s predecessor Robin Smith, to have been unconstitutional.In response, Patel claimed last week that the group was actively seeking to “delay and derail” Headingley’s international reinstatement, because they believe the club is being “sacrificed on the altar of Black Lives Matter”.The matter was raised in the House of Commons earlier this week by Julian Knight MP, the chairman of the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, which has been investigating the racism issue ever since Rafiq’s emotional testimony to the committee in November.Related
Yorkshire add Kabir Ali, Tom Smith and Alastair Maiden to coaching staff
Yorkshire racism report ruled Azeem Rafiq being called 'P**i' was 'banter'
Lord Patel: Black Lives Matter opponents are behind Yorkshire reform delays
The ECB addressed these matters in their announcement, stating that the club would be required to resolve the issues that had been “subject to procedural flaws”, while also calling for “amendments to club rules relating to the appointment and operation of the Board”.These relate to the ongoing issue of the Graves Family Trust, which is owed approximately £15 million by Yorkshire following a bail-out in the early 2000s which saved the club from bankruptcy. According to Roger Hutton – the former chairman who resigned in the wake of Rafiq’s allegations – Graves’ continued role behind the scenes had been a significant “roadblock” in Yorkshire’s delayed response to the crisis.”The Board welcomed the hard work and actions taken by Yorkshire County Cricket Club towards putting the Club on a new path,” Barry O’Brien, the ECB’s interim chair, said. “Alongside the progress already made, we considered many factors in reaching our decision. Amongst them, the impact on fans who have bought tickets in good faith and the young people who will benefit from Yorkshire’s improved outreach and pathway provisions. Finally, the Board was mindful that the return of international cricket will support continued change and progress at the Club.”I very much hope that the traumatic events that have taken place at Yorkshire over the past several months and years will act as a catalyst for increasing the pace of change throughout the game.”Yorkshire’s progress, both in the lead-up to its March deadline and thereafter, will be monitored quarterly by the ECB, alongside the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).”There is no place for racism in sport or in any part of our society,” Marcial Boo, the EHRC chief executive, said. “In our meetings with Lord Patel at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and with the England and Wales Cricket Board, we encouraged them to take bold steps in eradicating racism. We welcome today’s announcement as a clear sign that progress is being made.”We will now closely monitor progress against their action plan, which will involve us attending quarterly checkpoint meetings with the YCCC and ECB. If progress is not made quickly enough, we will consider further legal action.”We hope that other cricket clubs will take this opportunity to examine what they are doing to tackle discrimination and harassment, so that no one involved in cricket, whether as an amateur or a professional, suffers the racism that others sadly faced in the past.”
There is a strong argument for Sri Lanka to move Mahela Jayawardene, who looks to have hit top form at a vital stage of the World T20, permanently into the opener’s slot in limited-overs cricket
Andrew Fernando in Pallekele30-Sep-2012On a night stacked with positives for Sri Lanka, Mahela Jayawardene’s unbeaten 65 from 49 deliveries was perhaps the most heartening of all. Sri Lanka have prospered in this format when he has made runs at the top of the innings, making him a little bit like a right-handed Sanath Jayasuriya who has bartered brutality for refinement. Against New Zealand, Jayawardene threatened form with a rapid 44. Against West Indies he flowed rhythmically into it. With both openers having made fifties in the Super Eights, and Kumar Sangakkara also among the runs, the chances in this tournament for Sri Lanka’s middle order to prove that it has become more robust are getting fewer.A cursory glance at Jayawardene’s score on the sheet might suggest his innings was a run-of-the-mill Twenty20 knock; a strike rate of 133 with ten boundaries and a six. But that’s too simple. No innings of his is quite so humdrum. He feels the game, breathes it. At the crease, and as a captain, he has his ear to the ground, and his finger on the pulse. In the Super Eights opener, with 179 to chase down, Jayawardene was aggressive throughout his 26-ball salvo, as he needed to be. On Saturday, it was like he composed a piece of music.The four through point after three dot balls in the first over was the first clang of percussion in the seconds after the audience has calmed into an expectant hush; the piano chord heralding commencement. Tillakaratne Dilshan sounded out three bold notes of his own in the next over, crashing Fidel Edwards for consecutive fours through the offside, but while his partner held the limelight, Jayawardene played second fiddle – his intonations audible only occasionally.At the end of the Powerplay, with Sri Lanka well ahead of the required rate, Jayawardene dipped into a quieter movement alongside Sangakkara. Those overs were defined by a more careful cadence, and Jayawardene barely progressed at a run-a-ball. Sunil Narine was negotiated watchfully on a track assisting spin, but occasionally a louder thrum came along, like when he reverse-paddled Narine for four, through where slip would have stood. After the match had been made safe, Jayawardene began to go faster. There is a chance Sri Lanka’s net run rate will determine qualification to the semi-finals, and so a spate of boundaries brought the innings to a crescendo. The crowd might have wished West Indies had made more, so that Jayawardene could have kept playing for them.As a successful Twenty20 batsman, he is often nominated as an advert for the enduring effectiveness of convention in every format, but in reality, Jayawardene is as innovative as they come. It’s just that the grace that pervades every aspect of his game gives the illusion that he only plays the old-style strokes. Earlier in his career, and at times even now, his release stroke was an advancing shot over midwicket. In the hands of anyone else, that would be a heave across the line. When Jayawardene plays it, it seems like the very shot that inspired the MCC coaching manual.
At times even now, his release stroke [is] an advancing shot over midwicket. In the hands of anyone else, that would be a heave across the line. When Jayawardene plays it, it seems like the very shot that inspired the MCC coaching manual.
In Twenty20s, Jayawardene scoops with the best of them, and though he has had trouble timing reverse shots in the past, now sweeps past point with aplomb. In the practice match against West Indies before the tournament began, he played a reverse pull off Kieron Pollard that flew over short-third man for four. He is a small man compared to Twenty20 behemoths like Kevin Pietersen, and he is not as fond of weights and protein shakes as Brendon McCullum, but he has found ways to number among the best.”When T20 came around, I had to push myself with my limitations,” Jayawardene said after his innings at Pallekele. “I had to make sure that I was a bit more innovative. I don’t have the power like Chris Gayle or Kieron Pollard. For me it’s all about hitting gaps. When I want to hit out I can hit. Maybe not 100 metres, but 70 or 75 metres. It just helps me opening the batting, as I have more time to work with.”There is a strong argument for Jayawardene moving permanently up the order to open the innings in limited-overs cricket, where he has played with the kind of freedom not afforded him in an inexperienced middle order. In ODIs, his average as an opener is almost 17 better than his career average, and his Twenty20 numbers are similar. Too often he has sacrificed his favoured spot to accommodate team-mates who are not as effective providing good starts, but are wholly unsuited to batting in the middle order. Though Jayawardene demotes himself to make the most of Sri Lanka’s resources, perhaps the team would be better served if their best opener remained in that position permanently.Following two good innings at the top, Jayawardene is likely to face the new ball for the remainder of the World Twenty20 at least. Sri Lanka are all but through to the semi-finals, with a far superior net run rate than that of England and West Indies – both of whom need to win handsomely on Monday to push the hosts out of the top two. Jayawardene has struck form at the right time for Sri Lanka and, as he has proven with centuries in the World Cup semi-final in 2007 and the World Cup final last year, he has a habit of reserving his best for the crunch encounters.
The spotlight was on Naeher, and rightfully so, but her swansong was one of several storylines that unfolded throughout the match
The time never feels right to step away; it always feels either too soon or too late. And, when it comes to Alyssa Naeher, she made it feel like her international career is ending prematurely – and that's because she's still pretty damn good at what she does.
Naeher is stepping away, she did so with a win. Thanks to a Lynn Williams game-winner in the 71st minute, the USWNT left The Hague with a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands. It was a hard-fought win, one that, for large stretches, looked like it wasn't going to go the USWNT's way, as they were at times outplayed and out-shot (a whopping 23-5) by the host side.
The spotlight was on Naeher on Tuesday, and rightfully so, but her swansong was one of several storylines that unfolded throughout the match. There was Williams leading a group of supersubs to turn the game around. There were some uncharacteristic struggles from USWNT regulars all over the field throughout what might just be the worst half of the Hayes era. And there were some bright moments, too, particularly from newcomers fighting for their spot.
GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from The Hague.
Crystal Palace have reportedly reignited their interest in a centre-back target as they look to provide cover in the event that Marc Guehi leaves the club this summer.
Much of the speculation surrounding Oliver Glasner's side ahead of the new Premier League season has been in the wrong direction from their perspective, with a host of their stars linked with a move away from Selhurst Park.
Michael Olise has already left, while there remains interest in his magical partner in crime Eberechi Eze, who is thought to be attracting attention from Manchester City and Tottenham among others.
Also on the wishlist of top clubs is defender Guehi, who is down to the final two years of his contract in south London and is unlikely to pen a new deal with the Eagles. Newcastle United have begun negotiations to sign the EURO 2024 star, though it is reported that Palace "are adamant they will not be selling Guehi for less than £60m", with Chelsea having a 20% sell on clause (£12m should he leave for £60m).
Guehi is "open" to the idea of moving to Tyneside, but there is also thought to be interest from Liverpool in his services and that could complicate matters for the Magpies, playing into Palace's hands in the process as they push for the maximum value from their captain.
In the event that Guehi departs, Glasner's side will be in the market for a new centre-back to partner Joachim Andersen, and are ready to turn another former Glasner pupil to plug the gap.
That comes as Football Transfers report that Palace have reignited their interest in signing Wolfsburg defender Maxence Lacroix, who has long been linked with a move away from the German club.
The Frenchman is down to the final 12 months of his £59,000-a-week deal in Germany and is unlikely to pen a new contract, meaning that he could be available this summer for just €20m (£17m).
He's Haaland-esque: Crystal Palace can land dream £59m Mateta replacement
Crystal Palace eye interesting Mateta replacement
By
Connor Holden
Aug 4, 2024
He has racked up over 100 Bundesliga appearances to date and was compared to Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand by the Bundesliga's official website when first breaking through in 2021.
"Lacroix has a certain grace on the ball that is reminiscent of former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand in his prime. Similarly able to glide out of defence and pick a forward pass to a teammate, his elegance masks a steely will to win and a healthy aggression," they wrote.
His career has not caught fire in the way many anticipated since though, and he endured a tough 2023-24 campaign in which he saw red on three occasions in just 28 appearances.
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Lacroix's mixed 2023-24 season |
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Appearances |
28 |
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Goals |
4 |
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Yellow Cards |
3 |
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Red Cards |
3 |
But that has not put Palace off, with Glasner having worked with the defender during the 2020-21 season, when he was considered a major talent. The now-Palace boss handed Lacroix 29 Bundesliga starts and knows him well from their time together, with the report adding that he would be "eager" to work with Lacroix once more in south London.
Any deal for the Wolfsburg man may hinge on Guehi, but should he depart the Eagles are "firmly looking" at Lacroix with "an ambition to secure his signature" before the transfer window closes.
Darren Sammy talks about how the region’s cricket is suffering for want of communication and decision-making
Interview by Nagraj Gollapudi11-Feb-2016Being back as West Indies T20 captain must come as a shot in the arm for you?
People see it as a surprise, but I have been captain of the T20 team since 2010. It is just a continuation. It is my fifth World Cup, in a format which we won, and we stand a good chance of winning again. I am always excited about leading, especially the T20 team. It gives me pleasure and joy to captain some of the most sought after T20 players in the world.Brian Lara has said: watch out for West Indies in the World T20. Between the last tournament and now, what has changed for the team?
We are not often called favourites. The difference now is we have barely played any T20Is since the last World T20. Most of us have not been selected for ODI cricket as well. It is only by playing in different leagues that we continue keeping ourselves match ready.It is good that we are playing in Dubai [in the PSL], which is similar conditions to India. The experience we have in the dressing room, especially playing in India [in the IPL], will take us a long way. Take it one game at a time and believe we are the best. When it comes to T20 cricket, we are a confident bunch. I remember in 2012 when we won, it was about believing that we could win the World Cup. That was the goal. That was the mission.As a captain how do you deal with the challenge of leading players who have not played as a team for a long time?
It is always a challenge, but the plus for me is that the core of the team remains the same. If I recall, probably eight or nine of us were in the team that won in 2012 and the team that lost in the semi-final in 2014. These guys are very clear about their roles now in the team. It is a team that is very experienced, and it shouldn’t be too difficult for them to play the role that they have been asked to.
“One minute you say the best players should play and then three months later the same players are not selected”
It must be difficult to keep a positive mind, considering you have not been given a WICB contract?
At the end of the day West Indies cricket is not about one individual. Since the inception of retainer contracts, I have always had one. To not be offered a contract is disappointing. But I have moved on. Last year I have played probably the World Cup and a few T20s. And now we have only been selected for T20s. I have not really represented the West Indies. So I ply my trade in different T20 leagues around the world. That is how I provide for my family.Any sportsman, their passion, their desire is to represent their county. That is where your ultimate pride is. That has always been the case for me. I have learned throughout my career that nothing lasts forever. It is about me keeping myself fit and, when given the opportunity, like in this World Cup, going out and representing my region, hopefully we could win the World Cup. Because I believe we could.Our cricket is suffering because we are not making the right decisions. And it did not start with me, it did not start with Pollard, Bravo, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder. It started decades ago, way back. We have been known to manage situations poorly.How would having a contract help you?
Having a retainer contract is [recognising] what you do in the field. If you noticed, only the guys who are playing Test cricket got retainer contracts. There are guys who play one-day and T20 cricket, formats West Indies does well in. You can safely say T20 is the format we are best at. There are criteria based on which you are supposed to get a contract. I believe what I have done, what some of the other players have done, merits a contract. Simple. I also don’t believe that if you are a senior [player] you are supposed to get a contract. It should be based on what you have done in the matches you have been asked to play.”I made myself unavailable [to T20 leagues] for so many years just to make sure I stay home and play for West Indies”•BCCIWhy are you not part of the West Indies’ Players Association?
They [WIPA] are the ones WICB negotiates with on player issues. But 14 of the 15-member World Cup squad is not part of WIPA. West Indies cricket has gone through a lot and it will continue to go through a lot. I don’t see things changing anytime soon.What exactly is the issue that has disturbed you? Is it related to the contracts dispute that flared up during the India tour?
We players are not happy with the remuneration offered by the WICB to participate in the World T20. We have not given any authorisation to WIPA to negotiate on our behalf. A large number of players in the squad do not receive any significant remuneration from WICB at all, so we want the opportunity to negotiate fairly the financial terms within the contract.In the past, 25% of the income received by the WICB for participating in ICC tournaments was distributed to the squad. The remuneration being offered now compared to previous World Cup events is shocking, to say the least. We are being offered now just $6900 per match across the board, irrespective of experience. Players are being asked to start providing services from nearly four weeks ahead of the World Cup and be guaranteed just $27,600 if they play all the guaranteed matches, which is a staggering reduction. What happens to a player who does not feature in a match?The WICB say they cannot figure out what 25% of the participation fee is as the ICC’s formula has changed. Surely they must know a figure. What is it? We want the match fees to be doubled. I have also written to the WICB, asking if they have got a sponsor for the team, and what is the sponsorship revenue. We need answers.Is there a danger of West Indies pulling out of the World T20 in case the WICB does not want to negotiate?
Under my watch players have never said they would strike or not take part in the World Cup. All we’ve said is, we don’t accept the terms given or agreed by an association that doesn’t represent us.Considering that Jason Holder was denied a chance to play in the PSL and Rayad Emrit lost the Trinidad captaincy for playing in the Bangladesh Premier League, do you reckon that the WICB and domestic boards have shown themselves to be poor negotiators with Caribbean players who play in T20 leagues worldwide?
Not only in T20, in our Test team, in our one-day team. It just shows the state of West Indies cricket. We are stagnant. We are not going anywhere. The only team that has shown that they could win cups is the T20 team. They call us all sorts of names, but yes, when selected, we still turn up to play for our country.You cannot ignore the rise of T20 cricket. It is crazy to ignore how T20 cricket has taken the world by storm. [Dwayne] Bravo and myself were talking the other day. Look at how many players like Bravo have come through since he made his Test debut. Remember, West Indies believed in five bowlers, a wicketkeeper and five batsmen; or a wicketkeeper, four fast bowlers and six batsmen. Since Bravo was selected back in 2004, I remember thinking: “Wow, they have selected Bravo, that means allrounders could get a chance. Since Bravo you have had Dwayne Smith, you have myself, Jason Holder, now you have Carlos Braithwaite and Andre Russell.Braithwaite just got an IPL contract worth probably $600,000. In this day and age how are you going to manage that? There must be a medium in which all parties can be happy. Because first of all we can’t compete with Australia, India and England in terms of the pay structure for their players, who could say, “Okay, this year I don’t want to or I can’t play the IPL”, because they are well looked after by their boards. What happens to other boards that cannot do that? So there must be a medium where both parties are happy.
“Once I retire, that’s it for me. And it is not far. I have three kids. I have not seen them losing their front teeth. I have missed so many first days of their school”
What about the argument that Test cricket in the Caribbean is suffering as players are giving up the longer format to play T20? Is there a way out where Test cricket remains strong and players play all three formats?
I played Test cricket. I was given the captaincy at a time when they said they needed stability in West Indies cricket. Four years later I was told I was not needed as a captain and as a player. I was 29, 30 years old. That was the message sent to me. You know, I made myself unavailable [to T20 leagues] for so many years just to make sure I stay home and play for West Indies. I am retired from Test cricket. It is a decision that I don’t regret. So I thought I should commit myself to ODI and T20 cricket. Our Test cricket is a reflection of our first-class cricket.How good is the first-class cricket in the Caribbean?
They have professionalised the league. Guys are getting paid way much better at the expense of international players, but the cricket itself has not improved. Leeward Islands have probably lost 14 out of the 16 matches, with probably one being rained out. Matches are finishing inside two days. It is a reflection of our Test cricket. Spinners dominate the first-class season because the pitches are turning from day one. You don’t get that in Test cricket.What is the solution?
Ask the guys in charge, who make the decisions. There are people in place for that. I am here to play and try to win matches.If these men in charge sit down with the players, is there a way out?
Of course. There is plenty of information. The relationship has always been a broken one.How concerned were you by WICB CEO Michael Muirhead’s statement that players like you, who did not play in the just concluded Super50, but appeared in the Big Bash – might not be considered for the tri-series against Australia and South Africa in a few months?
Yes, and he also said he wants the best available players to compete in the Super50 one-day tournament, knowing that some of us were given no-objection certificates to play in the Big Bash. Also, three months ago the so-called best players were available for the ODI series against Sri Lanka. None of them were selected. So what message are you sending? One minute you say the best players should play and then three months later the same players are not selected. Look, I am 32 years old. I am not an Under-19 player anymore. Priorities change with difference situations.”The only team that has shown that they could win cups is the T20 team”•Getty ImagesShivnarine Chanderpaul, who claims he was forced to retire, recently said he fears for the Caribbean youngsters, given the way the WICB has treated players. Do you relate to his feelings?
For years now they have been calling the guys who play T20 around the world mercenaries, money grabbers. At the end of the day, this is our job. I can’t go to Dubai Mall and collect everything in the store and say, I’m Darren Sammy, West Indies cricketer, and everything will be paid for. No, it is not going to happen.I know and I can vouch for all the guys here that there is no better feeling than representing your country. There are many ways things can be resolved, but you need proper communication. Too many people with big egos, man.How then does West Indies cricket some day utilise the services of Darren Sammy?
Oh, no, no. Once I retire, that’s it for me. And it is not far. I have three kids – 11, six, and my youngest daughter will be three soon. I have not seen them losing their front teeth. I have missed so many first days of their school, so many birthdays…That is what I do – cricket is my job. Cricket has been my life. You miss so many other important aspects of your personal life. And people label you so many different things. I am a professional. My passion is cricket. The day I have lost that passion is the day I am done. It is not far.Did it hurt to go unsold in the IPL auction?
Not really. I believe international cricket is the window to the IPL. I have barely played international cricket. Last time, the day before the auction I got 80-odd against Ireland in the first game of the World Cup. Everybody was watching.Life goes on. I told my wife there is an opportunity that I’ll be home for two months. April is a big month for me: it is my wife’s and my mom’s birthday – both of them were born on the same day. My daughter’s birthday is also in April. I get to be home for one of the occasions I have missed for the last five or six years.Are you looking forward to pairing up with Phil Simmons, the West Indies head coach?
I have been looking forward to it for a long time. He is well respected. I can’t wait to start with the camp in Dubai immediately after the PSL, and then the World Cup. We picked the best possible 15 that we could have. We gave [Sunil] Narine the best opportunity to be in the squad, even though he needs to go for the ICC test [to clear his action]. We also gave Pollard, who is injured, the best opportunity to get fit. He has been training and his knee is getting better after the surgery.