Rose blasts Windies stars for opting out of Bangladesh tour

Former West Indies fast bowler Franklyn Rose was critical of some of the West Indies team's current stars after they decided to opt out of the Bangladesh tour this month.

Windies are set to play three One-Day Internationals (ODI) and two Test matches in Chittagong and Dhaka. However, several high-profile players, including both Test and ODI captains, Jason Holder and Kieron Pollard respectively, have opted out of the tour for COVID-19 concerns.

Rose blasted the decision as 'rubbish', asking whether there is no coronavirus in Australia or elsewhere.

"These same players went to England and New Zealand through the Covid situation, so all of a sudden they have fear to tour Bangladesh? That is rubbish," he said. "They say the coronavirus is the problem, yet some of these same guys are playing in Australia as we speak. Don't they have corona there?"

The former speedster reiterated that the players should not be choosing if and where to play, as it shows a lack of commitment to the cause, which he sees as the betterment and improvement of West Indies cricket.

"You think any of these players could look at the England, Australia, and India team and choose where to go and when not to go? I have never seen that with those teams. We need disciplined committed players and, if the board is not strong enough to handle these guys, get rid of the board as well".

Rose is urging the selectors to pick players who are going to make long-term commitments to the West Indies cause, if the regional side is to perform over the long term and improve their stock on the international scene.

"If I were those players, I would have gone to Bangladesh, which is the weakest team in the world right now, and try to improve on my average, both batting and bowling," he said.

A 38-member contingent from West Indies arrived around 10:30am today and were taken to team hotel where they will undergo coronavirus tests on the first day of their three-day isolation.