West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has hit back at head coach Daren Sammy for the latter's 'denied selection' statement following Test squad announcement for Pakistan series at home. While the official statement said Alzarri will be missing the Test series due to personal reasons, Sammy went on to say that Alzarri was selected but refused to turn out for the series against Pakistan.
Alzarri revealed that he had a conversation with the head coach and Cricket West Indies (CWI). He cited fitness concerns as reason for missing the Pakistan Tests. The pacer was out of action for a year due to a second stress fracture. He chose to skip the Pakistan Test series after playing ODI series against New Zealand. He feels that his body wasn't ready for rigorous workload of Test cricket after the ODIs.
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"We spoke about me playing the two Test matches here, playing five back-to-back ODIs [vs NZ] 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," Alzarri said on Antigua Observer's Good Morning Jojo Sports Show.
Alzarri went on to say that he represent West Indies, not the head coach.
"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."
When was the last time Alzarri played a Test?
The 29-year-old's previous Test appearance was earlier this month. He played three wickets each in both Tests. West Indies ended up breaking their winless streak, winning the two-Test series 1-0. In his absence, West Indies also beat Pakistan in the Test series opener. West Indies pacers took all 20 wickets as hosts beat Babar Azam-led side by 90 runs and dedicated the win to Gary Sobers on his 90th birth anniversary.
He is expected to be on West Indies' tour of India which starts on September 27. West Indies will play three ODIs and as many T20Is against India.
When will Alzarri be in action?
Alzarri is set to be back in action in just over a week. He will represent Antigua and Barbuda Falcons against Jamaica Kingsmen on August 7 in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2026 opener. Each team has to play 10 league matches before the qualifiers. The final of the league will be played on September 20, less than a week before the ODI series opener against India.