Australia series: Chanderpaul disappointed with exclusion, finds backing from Lara

Dominica, May 28: Veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul on Thursday said he was disappointed with the way in which his cricketing career was treated, though insisted that he is still not retired.

The treatment meted to the 40-year-old Chanderpaul, who has played the most number of Tests for the West Indies (164) and is the second highest scorer (11,867 runs), also upset champion West Indies batsman Brian Lara.

Chanderpaul, the Guyanese who has been playing international cricket for for 21 years now, told a local newspaper that his request to play his final series against Australia wasn't too much. He said the opportunity would have given him a chance to acknowledge his supporters at home.

Chairman of the West Indies Cricket Board's selection panel Clive Lloyd said younger batsmen needed an opportunity to defend the decision of overlooking Chanderpaul in the 12-man training squad that will be based in Barbados ahead of the first of the two-Test series against Australia.

Dominica will host the first Test from June 3 while the second Test will be played in Jamaica from June 11.

Chanderpaul, however, has found a great support from his countrymen. Lara, who is just 87 runs ahead of the former as the West Indies' highest scorer in Tests, over the treatment. Lara reportedly told the Trinidad Guardian the manner in which the selectors deal with their players is despicable and should not be tolerated any more.

Chanderpaul has earned the right to say goodbye in an acceptable way and it has nothing to do with runs or numbers, said the legendary left-handed batsman.

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