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Former West Indies captain Richie Richardson supported the 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The off-spinner was reported for a suspected action during a CLT20 match and was subsequently withdrawn from not only the CLT20 final between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders but also from West Indies' tour to India, commencing on October 8 at Kochi.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 going to let that get him down. He is going to work and come back with a bang. And he will make a comeback as a 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."
Benn replaces Narine
Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn will be replacing mystery bowler Sunil Narine, who has been was withdrawn from the tour of India following his ‘illegal’ bowling action reported during the Champions League Twenty20 tournament.
The 33-year-old Barbados player, Benn will join the team on Monday at Kochi, the venue for the first ODI. The opening match is scheduled for October 8.
"The withdrawal from the upcoming tour will allow Narine the opportunity to have his action assessed and plan his return to cricket," a WICB release stated.
WICB's chairman of selection committee, Clive Lloyd has expressed disappointment with Narine's removal and the way the matter was dealt with by CLT20 organisers.
Meanwhile, opener Lendl Simmons, who has a back problem, was rested for Saturday's practice match. Jermaine Blackwood, 22-year-old from Jamaica, has been called in as a cover for Simmons.
Blackwood trained with the rest of the team at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.