Sammy set to remain

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Chief regional selector Clyde Butts has given Darren Sammy's leadership a stamp of approval and has hinted that he is likely to continue as captain for the proposed tours of Bangladesh and India later this year.

Sammy was appointed in the role last November, replacing talismanic Jamaican Chris Gayle ahead of the tour of Sri Lanka. His tenure came to an end following the three-Test series against India which finished last week.

"There is no problem with his captaincy on the field. Of course, as selectors there are always times when we look on and believe things could be done differently, but I am impressed by him," Butts stated in a radio interview here.

"I think there is no doubt in my mind that he will be considered for the job in the future, but we have not made a decision as yet and then gone to the board with our decision, but definitely he will be considered.

"To be fair, we are going to Bangladesh later in the year and so we will have to make our recommendation pretty soon. Sammy has bowled pretty well, and captained the team on the field well."

Sammy presided over the 0-0 draw in the rain-hit three-Test series against Sri Lanka before losing the three-match one-day series 2-0.

He then led the Windies to a quarter-final spot at the World Cup and had mixed fortunes for PakistanÕs tour of the Caribbean, losing the one-day series 3-2 and drawing the Test series 1-1.

West Indies also lost the one-series against India 3-2 before going down 1-0 in the three-match Test series.

Butts admitted that one of the problems with the captaincy was the dearth of candidates which left the selection panel with precious little to choose from.

The problem has been worsened by the fact that Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan, three of the most senior players on the team, have no central contracts with the West Indies Cricket Board.