Marlon Samuels is the only player from the ill-fated tour of India whom the West Indies selectors are likely to pick for the upcoming tour to South Africa in December.The West Indies are due to play three Tests, five limited overs internationals and three T20 matches.Sources told the Guardian that the selectors have already contacted several players about the possibility of being part of the team, and only Samuels of the 15-member squad which abandoned the tour in India, has been contacted.
The source also noted that veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, has also been speaking with the selectors.Among the other players being invited to make themselves available are: Sheldon Cottrell, Tino Best, Johnson Charles, Devon Smith, Kraigg Brathwaite, Keiran Powell, Shane Shillingford, Nkrumah Bonner, Asad Fudadin, Jonathan Carter, Sunil Ambris, Andre Fletcher, Jermaine Blackwood, Chadwick Walton, Devon Thomas, Jason Holder, Carlos Brathwaite, Devendra Bishoo, Ashley Nurse and Miguel Cummins.South African cricket authorities may be faced with a weakened West Indies team, something they rejected in 1998 when a Brian Lara-led team visited for the first official series following the end of the apartheid system.
Lara and his team-mates were involved in stand-off with the WICB over salaries, with several players being dropped, before a final plea from South Africa president Nelson Mandela, allowed good sense to prevail and the selected group made what turned out to be an ill-fated trip that saw the West Indies being swept aside in five Test matches.On Sunday, the WICB represented by president Dave Cameron, director Don Wehby and attorney Luke Hamel-Smith met with the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) represented by president and Chief Executive Officer Wavell Hinds, secretary Wayne Lewis and attorney Patrick Foster QC at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica.
Representing the players who were on the West Indies squad to India (with the exception of Marlon Samuels) was attorney Ralph Thorne QC. Thorne also represented the interests of Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine and Lendl Simmons. Also in attendance were players Andre Russell and Jason Holder.The WICB sent out a statement which said: "The meeting was cordial, positive and fruitful and discussions will continue in an effort to find a way forward following the premature end of the tour of India."
However, T&T Guardian learned that some of the players who were on the tour of India did not make the Jamaica meeting because they could not get a flight.According to the player: "These men sent flight information at 1 am on Saturday for a flight to Jamaica which was carded for 8 am. When men showed up for the flight the plane broke down, so we could not get over there for the meeting."We asked that the officials from both sides converse with us via skype and they refused saying that there was no Internet coverage at the Pegasus."The player continued saying: "What we heard from some of the A team players were that while the meeting was going on in Jamaica on Sunday night, a selector was calling them to enquire whether they would be interested in touring South Africa."