The West Indian cricketer, Ravi Rampaul has now become a Kolpak player with Surrey after being continuously overlooked for various reasons by selectors in the Caribbean across various formats.
The last game Rampaul played for West Indies was in limited overs colours during last year's Sri Lanka tour. Post that series, he never played domestic cricket for Trinidad and hence, did not make it to the ICC T20 2016 World Cup winning squad.
He has had a brilliant start to his county season, clinching two five-wicket hauls. However, the 31-year-old’s decision to play for Surrey has made him ineligible for West Indies selection. The right-arm-fast bowler had a successful 2011 World Cup, taking 5-51 against India in the group match and later formed a lethal partnership with Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach. Surprisingly, he has not played Tests since 2012 for unknown reasons and there have been rumours over his fitness as well.
Last August, before the domestic season began, he declared his intention to make it back into the Test team, but things did not work in his favour.
"At that time (August 2015), I was very interested in playing Test cricket. However, after West Indies aborted the tour in India in 2014, my retainer contract was taken away and I was left out of the 30-man squad for the 50-over World Cup.
"I was being less and less selected by the West Indies. In fact, I was not selected for that entire year. All of that played a big part of my decision to go Kolpak with Surrey. Cricket is my profession and I had to take the opportunities that came along ", Rampaul explained in an interview with Cricbuzz.
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Rampaul was criticized for being ‘fat’
The 31-year-old highlighted that the Caribbean fans and even the selectors opined that his body structure was the main criteria in how often he was selected. Rampaul said that even the noted Caribbean strength and conditioning coach, such as Ronald Rogers, Oba Gulston could vouch for his fitness as he regularly worked with them while in Trinidad.
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I have heard that (he is too fat) a lot throughout my career.
"I train and practice as much as I can because, as I said before, cricket is all that I have. Every time I played for West Indies and any other team, I always give 100%. I was told once by a selector that it's not how I bowl but how I look on television - (that) was the reason I was not selected.
"People always look at your faults and say little about your strengths. I rarely hear them talk about my performance on the field but they always have lots to say about my appearance. All I can do is continue to give my best on the field, wherever I am and push forward", he said.
Cricket is my profession, and I will take opportunities as they come
Rampaul regrets not giving more to West Indian cricket, but will now focus completely on playing for Surrey.
"I would have liked to play more Test matches and of course take more wickets, but my injuries restricted me from not achieving more and not being a permanent fixture in the team. Now, I want to use my experience and my skill to help Surrey win games and championships. They saw something in me and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue playing cricket.
"I love playing cricket in England so hopefully, I can take lots of wickets and also contribute with the bat. As far as my career goes, this is what is in front of me and I plan to make full use of it."
The TTCB (Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board) and WICB (West Indies Cricket Board) have received severe criticism from the players since the Twenty20 World Cup win. They publicly asked for an administrative change in the Caribbean.
However, Rampaul stood his ground on not returning to the Caribbean team even if the management changed.
"No, I won't give it up (Kolpak status)", he stated. "My family and I, we are well taken care of in England, and it's good knowing that I have a two-year contract rather than guessing when next I would be selected for the West Indies. It's comforting and secure and it’s already showing in my game", he concluded.
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