Former West Indies captain Richie Richardson today came out in full support of mystery spinner Sunil Narine, who has been barred from playing the Champions League T20 final for a suspect illegal bowling action, saying he will return as an even better bowler.
The off-spinner was reported for a suspected action during a CLT20 match and was subsequently withdrawn from not only the CLT20 final between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders but also from West Indies' tour to India, commencing on October 8 at Kochi.
"Knowing the character that he is, he is not gonna let that get him down. He is gonna go back and work. He is gonna come back with a bang. And he is gonna come back an even better bowler," Richardson, who is the West Indies cricket team manager in the current tour of India, said.
"These things will happen and it's how well you handle these crisis that proves the strength of character. I know he is a very strong individual. Might seem very easy going, very quiet but deep down he is a very confident, strong individual," he added.
Asked what advice he would give to 26-year old Trinidadian, Richardson said, "How do you know he is not in a very good frame of mind? Nobody wants it to happen to himself. Nobody wants it to happen to anybody. It's unfortunate. He has just got to go home, think about it and come back.
"And I know that's his approach, that's his attitude. He would obviously be disappointed but he is not down."
Stating that the team is confident of beating the hosts even without their ace bowler, Richardson said, "We just have to focus on what we have to do. We are positive even without him that we can play well against India and beat India. That's the attitude we have got to adapt. Things happen in life that you have no control over.
"The most important thing for you is to always pick yourself up and go forward. Sometimes when you lose a major player, other players dig deeper, somebody else comes to the fore. And that's what we want to see," he said.
Asked if the team should have gone with two spinners Richardson said, "I am not the selector. Even when I was the captain I never got the playing XI I wanted to pick. At the end of the day it is a democratic process. The selectors have a plan. We just have to support the team.
