These are stormy times in the West Indies. Even as the team from the Caribbean is struggling, there are plenty of rumours doing the rounds.
In a statement, here on Saturday, the West Indies captain Darren Sammy said, “I am concerned about certain falsehoods which are being disseminated in certain sections of the media. These falsehoods seem designed to continue to smear my character as an individual, a cricketer and West Indies captain.”
Sammy added, “Therefore I wish to make it abundantly clear to the public that at no time did I discourage, dissuade or in any other way seek to influence any player's non-attendance to the recently held WIPA (West Indies Players' Association) Awards function. Players made their own decisions not to attend.”
The West Indies captain elaborated, “I also wish to make it clear that I myself was unable due to personal reasons. I expressed regret at my inability to attend; however, at no time did I give any commitment to WIPA or any of its officers that I would be attending the function and any suggestion to the contrary is not based on fact.”
Sammy said: “It has never been in my nature to behave in the manner being suggested. Those who know me as a person can attest to this and despite criticisms, challenges and the like I have always remained true to the ideals of representing West Indies cricket when and wherever it is required of me.”
The relations between the Board here and the WIPA are strained.
