‘Where’s your commitment?!’ - Ganga questions Windies players after Bangladesh pull-out

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Former Test batsman Daren Ganga believes West Indies players needed to exercise more faith in the judgement of Cricket West Indies (CWI) instead of pulling out of the tour to Bangladesh.

While agreeing players had the right to make their own decisions, Ganga said the CWI medical panel had assessed the risks to player safety in the upcoming series and given the all clear, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

And the former Trinidad and Tobago captain pointed to a lack of commitment on the part of players, contending there needed to be a "collective effort" on their part if West Indies cricket was to succeed.

"Now, more than anything else, it's a collective effort that is required from the players," Ganga told CNC3 TV. "Yes, it's been a challenging year [last year], West Indies has had to select a different team to go to Bangladesh [this year]. It's not a normal year so I don't think you can judge the players.

Certain amount of commitment

"Every individual is different in terms of an assessment of his or her situation but ... there still needs to be a certain amount of commitment towards West Indies cricket, which I don't think we're seeing from many of the players. That is where I would like to point my fingers in that direction.

"Players [need to] show more commitment to West Indies cricket. Cricket West Indies did do a [reconnaissance trip] to Bangladesh and Dr Akshai Mansingh who heads the medical panel in that actual trip, cleared Bangladesh as being a secure environment for an international tour.

"And you've got to trust the institution that governs the game in the region."

Ten first choice players declined selection for the Test and One-Day International series in Bangladesh with CWI citing "COVID-19 related concerns or personal fears" as the reason behind their decisions.

The group was headed by Test skipper Jason Holder and white ball captain Kieron Pollard, and included Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran.