'Windies selectors erred with Permaul snub'

Georgetown (Guyana), Sep 12 - Former Guyana batsman Rabindranauth Seeram has criticised West Indies selectors for overlooking left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.

Permaul, the leading wicket-taker in the 2014-15 first class season, was last week left out of the 15-man squad in favour of uncapped Barbados left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, a news agency reported.

"The selectors definitely made a huge error by not taking Permaul to Sri Lanka. I am not too sure what basis they want to pick the team on, but I believe form plays an important part in our selection," Seeram said.

Permaul finished with 67 wickets during the WICB Professional Cricket League (PCL) as Guyana Jaguars romped to capture the inaugural title. However, the 26-year-old was less than spectacular in his two Tests this year, taking four wickets in the third Test against England and two in the second Test against Australia in Kingston.

Overall, he has taken 18 wickets in six Tests at 43 runs apiece. Warrican, meanwhile, snared 49 wickets at 14 runs apiece for Barbados Pride.

Seeram, who averaged 35 in 41 first class games between 1983 and 1992, said Permaul and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo would have formed an excellent partnership on the spin-friendly wickets in Sri Lanka.

"The Guyanese spin twins of Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul have proven time and again in recent history that they can consistently demolish batting sides. Both spinners complement each other well and in Sri Lanka where the pitches are on the slow side, the two would have to deliver the goods for us," Seeram said.

West Indies play two Tests, three One-Day Internationals (ODI) and two Twenty20 Internationals in a tour running from October 14 to November 12.

(IANS)