Alzarri Joseph hits back at Daren Sammy over selection row

West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph has responded sharply to comments made by head coach Daren Sammy.

West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph has responded sharply to comments made by head coach Daren Sammy. The issue stems from his exclusion from the Test squad for the ongoing series against Pakistan.

Joseph did not make the cut for the series. Cricket West Indies had initially explained his absence, citing personal reasons. Later, Sammy offered a different version. He said the pacer had declined the chance to play.

Speaking to a Caribbean news outlet, Joseph addressed Sammy’s remarks directly. He said he had already spoken with both Sammy and Cricket West Indies about the matter. He pointed out that the official statement clearly mentioned personal reasons. Given Sammy’s long experience in the game, Joseph said the coach would have known exactly how his comments might land publicly. He added that he had nothing more to say on the issue.

The 29-year-old then turned to his fitness struggles. He explained that he has been out of action for a full year. This followed a second stress fracture, which kept him away from international cricket at full intensity for a long stretch.

Joseph called Sammy’s remarks controversial. He argued that his body simply was not ready for the physical demands of a Test series. He recalled recent conversations about his workload. This included playing two Test matches alongside five back-to-back ODIs against New Zealand earlier this month. He said he personally knew his body needed time before taking on another long format series. Without proper context, he felt the statement gave an incomplete picture of the situation.

Despite the disagreement, Joseph made his priorities clear. He said his focus remains firmly on his job. He is representing the West Indies, not any individual, including the head coach. He added that he is not there to build friendships. His only goal, he said, is to work hard and represent the people of the West Indies.

On the field, West Indies currently lead the two-match Test series 1-0. A win in the second Test would give them their first series victory over Pakistan since 2000. This adds even more weight to a contest that has already stirred plenty of conversation off the field.

As the series heads toward its conclusion, all attention now shifts to how this selection controversy might shape team dynamics going forward, both on and off the pitch.