West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has publicly challenged the narrative surrounding his absence from the ongoing Test series against Pakistan, describing remarks made by head coach Daren Sammy as "controversial, without context." While Cricket West Indies officially announced that Joseph was unavailable due to personal reasons, Sammy later suggested to reporters that the bowler had purposefully declined selection despite being cleared following an injury.
Joseph, speaking on the Good Morning Jojo Sports Show on the Antigua Observer, stated that he had engaged in discussions with both the head coach and Cricket West Indies (CWI) regarding his availability. He asserted that Sammy was well aware of the implications his comments would have on public perception. Joseph noted that he had nothing further to say to the coach regarding the statement. "Like I said, he knows exactly what that statement would have done and the narrative it would have pushed in the public." Joseph revealed that workload management after his return from injury was central to the decision.
The primary factor behind Joseph's decision was workload management. After returning from a second stress fracture that forced him to miss tours in India and New Zealand, he participated in a two-Test series against Sri Lanka and all five ODIs against New Zealand earlier this month. Joseph explained that "Obviously, I've been out for an entire year," and his body was not prepared to transition directly into another Test series. He maintained that his physical readiness was the core of the issue, making the coach's public framing of the situation misleading.
When asked if this public disagreement had damaged his professional relationship with Sammy, Joseph insisted that his commitment to the team remains unchanged. He stated that he is a professional focused on representing the West Indies rather than an individual. Joseph clarified that his role is to perform his job for the people of the West Indies, noting that he is not there to make friends, and his professional focus will not be affected by the episode.
"I'm a professional, so I'm going to go to work,” Joseph said.
So for me, I'm neither here nor there in terms of a relationship.
