For I am already at point of being sacrificed, the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. – 2 Timothy 4: 6 and 7
THERE IS A TIME for everyone to begin and there is also a time for everything to come to an end.
But sometimes we do not know when that time is here. So it was for Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
The decision by the selectors had to come at some time, and now is the time for the West Indies selectors to focus on the future.
I have been one of the biggest fans and supporters of Chanderpaul and I do commend him for his outstanding contribution to West Indies cricket.
He has come to our rescue and saved us on numerous occasions with determination, undoubted application and good scores. He was considered as “Mr Dependable” for he was always there in a crisis for West Indies.
However, this is the time that he must say goodbye to the game that he has excelled in. I do not believe that he or any other cricketer should get a series for getting a series sake, and I don’t think Chanderpaul is still good enough to be playing for the West Indies. What about the younger players like Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, and Shai Hope?
I agree wholeheartedly with the last SATURDAY SUN’s editorial: “Chanderpaul must have recognised his own declining performances. This should have signalled to him that he needed to map out the timing of his departure and more importantly to publicly indicate such.”
He served us well. He was a great batsman, a great ambassador, and I wish him a healthy and long retirement. He should use his experience to help develop younger players for the West Indies.
