West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has responded to head coach Daren Sammy’s comments regarding his absence from the ongoing home Test series against Pakistan, insisting that the public narrative surrounding his decision lacked important context.When Cricket West Indies announced the squad for the two-match series, the board stated that Joseph would miss the matches due to personal reasons. However, Sammy later told reporters that the pacer had been selected but chose not to accept the call-up, saying Joseph had “declined selection.”Speaking on the Antigua Observer’s Good Morning Jojo Sports Show, Joseph said Sammy’s remarks created an unnecessary perception about his commitment to the team.“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,” Joseph said.“As I said, he knows exactly what that statement would have done and the narrative it would have pushed in the public. 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,” Joseph added.The 29-year-old explained that his decision was influenced by concerns over his physical condition after recently returning from a lengthy injury layoff.“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 said.Joseph spent close to a year on the sidelines after suffering a second stress fracture in his lower back, an injury that ruled him out of the West Indies’ tours of India and New Zealand. He only returned to international cricket during the Test series against Sri Lanka earlier this year.Having only recently resumed playing at the highest level, the right-arm quick said he wanted to carefully manage his workload to avoid another setback.The contrasting explanations from Joseph and Sammy have also sparked discussion over the state of their relationship. The fast bowler, however, insisted that personal equations would not affect his commitment to representing the West Indies.“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,” Joseph said.“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,” he added.
