Narine’s dilemma: IPL final or West Indies camp?

(Sports Page)— Sunil Narine has suddenly found himself between a rock and a hard place.

If the spinner remains in India to play for Kolkata Knight Riders in Sunday’s IPL 2014 final, as he wants to, he will miss the West Indies Cricket Board’s [WICB] June 1 deadline for joining the preparatory camp for the imminent home series against New Zealand, disqualifying him from selection.

“It is his decision,” WICB’s chief executive officer Michael Muirhead said on Friday. “The cut-off date for joining the camp was moved forward from May 22 to June 1 specifically to allow those players involved in the IPL the opportunity for more matches. Anyone who is in breach won’t be considered for selection.”

He indicated that if Narine misses the deadline, he would be unavailable for the first Test in Kingston between June 8 and 12; Narine would remain in the chosen squad of 15 and be eligible for the remainder of the series.

Speaking by telephone from his Kolkata office yesterday, Knight Riders’ chief executive officer Venky Mysore spoke on Narine’s behalf.

“This is in no way an act of defiance by Sunil,” Mysore said. “He is seeking the board’s flexibility for a couple of days leeway so that he can turn out for Knight Riders on Sunday.

“He has told us that he came to do a job and wants to see it through to its conclusion. He also wants to represent West Indies against New Zealand. You can understand the quandary that he is in.”