Clive Lloyd - reuters

georgetown guyana (cmc):

Legendary former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd has knocked the tour management for its omission of batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan from the second Test match between West Indies and Pakistan last month.

Lloyd feels that the omission of the 26-year-old right-hander from that Multan Test suggests a lack of vision by those in authority.

The bespectacled Guyanese, who won more Tests than any West Indian skipper — 36 wins, 12 defeats from 74 matches as captain — made his feelings known while delivering the main address at the Guyana Cricket Board's annual awards ceremony in Georgetown on Tuesday evening.

The burly left-hander, with 110 Tests and 87 one-day-international (ODI) matches on his playing log, told the gathering — including an injured Sarwan — that people should not forget that he (Lloyd) was dropped from the West Indies team after scoring seven centuries and averaging 40.

Lloyd eventually returned to end his career with 7,515 runs at an average of 46.67 with 19 centuries, 39 fifties and a highest score of an unbeaten 242 against India.

He elevated his average when he assumed role of captain.

"I was dropped after making seven centuries and averaging 40 so you could say you are in good company," Lloyd told Sarwan.

Sarwan, the West Indies vice-captain, was reinstated for the next Test in Karachi and was forced to retire hurt after being struck by an Omar Gul Yorker — ending his tour.

Lloyd, who led he West Indies to championship honours in the first two World Cups (1975 and 1979) and lost in the 1983 final to India in one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history, said that — looking back — those in authority lacked vision when he was omitted.

Lloyd feels the same can be said in Sarwan's case.

He said Sarwan's ability is well known at the international level and revealed that his captaincy during his limited opportunity at the West Indies level has been impressive.

Lloyd said Lara told Sarwan that he was not feeling well about 10 minutes before the start of the Australia innings in India in the recent ICC Champions Trophy and Sarwan responded by doing a wonderful job a captain.

He explained that it is not easy being told you have to captain the side 10 minutes before you go on the field, and he disclosed that Sarwan did an excellent job leading the West Indies to victory against the world champions.

"We all know your talent and you will be back to do your stuff," said Lloyd.