Stating that he was forced to retire from international cricket in order to get a NOC to play in the Masters Champions League, veteran West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul has warned that such shabby treatment by selectors is a worrying sign for future cricketers.
“I was given a No Objection Certificate by WICB with a clause in it that I retire on the 23rd (January),” Chanderpaul told ESPNcricinfo.
“If I didn’t announce my retirement they would have taken it back,” he said.
Last May, the 41-year-old was dropped ahead of the two-Test series against Australia with selectors saying that his “rapid” decline in form was the reason behind his axe.
Chanderpaul, who made his Test debut against England in March, 1994, rued the fact that he was not given the chance to “retire properly” following more than two decades of international career for the West Indies, sending a negative message to upcoming players.
“I wanted one last opportunity to play against Australia before signing off, but (I) can’t do anything about it. Just want to put that behind me,” Chanderpaul was quoted as saying.
“I got the NOC to play in Master Champions League after retiring from international cricket. Having played for so long, I feel I should have been treated well. If a player (like me) is treated like that, then think how the younger generation will be treated,” he said.
“Being treated like ordinary school boys. You are always treated that way. These things will happen,” Chanderpaul, who is here to play for Gemini Arabians in the inaugural Masters Champions League, said.
The left-handed batsman scored 11,867 runs at an average of 51, with 30 centuries in an illustrious career of 164 Tests to end at the second place in the list of all-time West Indies run-scorers, behind legendary Brian Lara with 11,953 runs.
It was his dip in form in two series, first during a three-Test tour of South Africa in 2014-15, where he managed 91 runs and the second was a three-Test series with England last April when he scored 92 runs.
However, Chanderpaul feels he could have scored more Test runs.
“I thought I could have gone on for a while, given more series and retired properly,” he said.
