CWI boss defends Alzarri Joseph punishment

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dr Kishore Shallow has defended the recent two-match suspension given to fast-bowler Alzarri Joseph for misconduct, while refuting suggestions that he should have been given a lengthier ban for his actions.

During the just-concluded One Day International series against England, a visibly upset Joseph stormed off the field on two occasions in the third and final match at Kensington Oval.

His behaviour was condemned by CWI and West Indies head coach Daren Sammy, with both describing it as “unacceptable” and Joseph was suspended for the first two matches of the T20I series.

However, some pundits believed the 28-year-old pacer should have received a stiffer penalty, with some even suggesting a one-year ban.

But speaking on Trinidadian radio station i95.5FM on Thursday, Dr Shallow said the punishment handed down by CWI was fair and just.

“When there are times like this, when people clearly because of emotions failed to act in a responsible way, we cannot simply say just cut them off. Some people even said to ban him forever,” Dr Shallow said.

“In addition to that, who are you spiting? Because the young man is still a very young player, a promising player for CWI, we have to put all support around him.

“I am sure that he has learnt his lesson, and I would be very surprised if Alzarri were to repeat his actions,” he added.

Dr Shallow said he believed the outcome of the T20 series, which England won 3-1, would have been different had Joseph not been suspended.

“It cost us, I believe, that T20 series against England and that is a responsibility that I will have to live with, that he has cost us a T20 series, because the truth of the fact is had he played those first two games in Barbados on that wicket, on that pitch, it is very likely we wouldn’t have lost those games,” Dr Shallow maintained.

“So everyone lost from our side, but it is a learning situation that I hope that Alzarri, all his teammates and the entire organisation learn from and we don’t have a repeat of such.”