Former West Indies fast bowler Sir Andy Roberts says the West Indies selection panel made a grave error by not including T&T spinner Khary Pierre in the 2019 ICC World Cup team.
In an interview with Guardian Media as he was looking at the West Indies women's 127-run loss in their latest one-day international to England at Chelmsford on Thursday which wrapped up a 3-0 series win for the home side, Roberts said he would have easily picked Pierre in his team.
"I am convinced that the selectors made a huge error in not including Khary Pierre on the team for the World Cup. This boy is a much better spinner than Ashley Nurse and (Fabien) Allen. What were they thinking when they decided not to pick him for this tournament?"
Pierre, a 27-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner, is on the Windies' reserve list for this World Cup and can only be called upon if there is an injury to one of the bowlers. However, despite being a crucial player for T&T and the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League, he has only played three T20 matches for the regional side.
The outspoken Roberts, who was part of the feared Windies pace attack which included Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft in the 1970s and won the first two World Cups as part of that team, added: "When you look at Pierre he takes wickets and is economical. He has a good head on his shoulders and if you require some runs at the end he can still give you that.
"I would have liked to have seen him on this team here."
Roberts also questioned why the Barbadian Roston Chase was not included.
"Roston Chase is a complete spinner and he is, of course, a batsman. He can stabilise the middle order around the big hitters and picking him would have made sense than some of the bowling choices they have made."
On the question of selectors, Roberts said he was in agreement with having different selection panels for the West Indies senior men's, A, women's and youth teams.
"This makes sense because he cannot have one panel selecting all the teams. No way this can be done properly because they can't see all the players. It is good to separate the teams and have different panels dealing with the different teams."
He added that the captain and coach should also not be selectors.
"The captain and coach should not be part of any selection panel. The selectors should give them a team and when they get the team, then allow them to choose, with a consultation with the chairman, the team that takes the field. They should not be part of the initial selection of the team. Let them take care of who goes unto the field, from the squad given to them."