West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has responded to head coach Darren Sammy’s remarks that he had declined selection for the ongoing two-match Test series against Pakistan. While announcing the squad, the West Indies Cricket Board had mentioned that Joseph was unavailable due to personal reasons.
However, a day ahead of the first Test, Sammy revealed that Joseph had declined to be a part of the squad when quizzed about his absence in the pre-match press conference. The comment hasn’t gone down well with Joseph, who revealed that he had a chat with West Indies cricket and Sammy ahead of the team selection.
“We had a chat, myself and the head coach. I’ve also had a chat with CWI, and if you realise, the statement CWI released said personal reasons. Mr Sammy, being around for a long time, he knows exactly what that statement would have done so, to be honest, I have nothing to say to Mr Sammy in terms of his statement. Like I said, he knows exactly what that statement would have done and the narrative it would have pushed in the public,” Joseph said on the Antigua Observer’s Good Morning Jojo Sports Show.
Alzarri Joseph revealed that he was cautious after his lower back stress fracture injury ruled him out for one year, including the Test series in India in 2025 as well as the following all-format tour of New Zealand. The speedster recently returned to action for the Test series against Sri Lanka in June but felt that his body wasn’t ready for another Test assignment.
“Obviously, I’ve been out for an entire year. I haven’t played at international intensity for so long after having a second stress fracture. We spoke about me playing the two Test matches here, playing five back-to-back ODIs [against New Zealand earlier this month] and how my body was feeling, and I knew to myself, my body was not ready to go into another Test series. So, the statement in itself is controversial, without context,” he added.
The right-arm speedster further hit back at Sammy’s comments, saying that he’s representing the West Indies, not the head coach.
I don’t go there to make friends, I go there to work: Joseph
“I’m a professional, so I’m going to go to work. I am representing the West Indies. I’m not representing Daren Sammy, so for me, I’m neither here nor there in terms of a relationship. I don’t go there to make friends. I go there to work and do a job and represent the people of the West Indies,” Joseph said.
Joseph last featured in the five-match ODI series against New Zealand, scalping eight wickets from five innings. Meanwhile, West Indies are leading 1-0 in the ongoing Test series against Pakistan after winning the first Test by 90 runs. The second Test begins on Sunday, August 2 at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad.