Andre Russell playing for the West Indies team is far from over. The veteran Caribbean all-rounder is ready to sacrifice T20 leagues as he is willing to play in upcoming India vs West Indies T20 series. The Windies star is hell-bent on giving his side a good chance in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
The West Indies cricket team is currently in a state of despair. The once mighty giants failed to qualify for the ICC World Cup 2023 but have certainly pinned their hopes for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Andre Russell who now mainly focuses on playing across various T20 leagues is keen to return to the squad.
“I am available. I want to be a part of the next World Cup so that would be something special to me if they can add me to the squad,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
“I am willing to play a couple of series to make myself available. I am not just going to turn up and say I want to play at the World Cup from nothing at all.
“I know how everything works; I know I have to sacrifice a couple leagues in order to play for West Indies. I am willing to do that and try to give them the best chance in the World Cup, and whatever I can contribute in whatever area, I am willing to do it,” Russell emphasised.
“There is an India series coming up that I would want to be a part of but no one has said anything to me and I am just minding my own business. I am just doing what I am doing — still training hard,” he added.
The Indian Cricket Team is currently touring the Caribbean. They outclassed their opponents in the first Test match by an innings and 141 runs and will take on their opponents in the second Test starting on 20th July. Following this the two sides will clash for a 3-match ODI series and then a 5-match T20 series.
In a bid to revive West Indies to their former glory, Andre Russell is willing to sacrifice his T20 leagues and return to the team.
This leads to the question as to whether the veteran all-rounder will be back with the squad for the IND vs WI T20 series.
Though Russell or the West Indies Cricket Board is yet to answer in this regard, it looks likely that the mighty player can return.
Russell confirmed that the two have communicated.
“I have been trying to let these guys know… I’m still willing to put my body on the line for West Indies cricket but no one has really come to me and said anything to me upfront.
“We [Sammy and I] spoke earlier when he just got the job and he said that he wants to know what I am up to and what I am available for, [but] then everything stopped. I haven’t heard from him after that. Obviously, he was busy with the [50-over] squad at the [recent] World Cup qualifiers [in Zimbabwe] so I not going to jump to anything,” he reasoned.
Russell said his options remain open.
“Whichever franchise wants me to come to play for them, then I will definitely be available. Because when you don’t play for West Indies it’s a problem but when they don’t pick you, you stay home, you don’t go to play franchise cricket, then it is also a problem because they are not seeing that you are playing any cricket.
“So, we have to keep ourselves busy and intact in those leagues. When you look at it, it’s just a weird situation in terms of what to do and what to not do,” he told to the Observer.