Alzarri Joseph, the fast bowler for the West Indies, has been suspended for two matches following an on-field altercation with captain Shai Hope during the third ODI against England at Kensington Oval in Barbados. This incident occurred during a match that the West Indies won by eight wickets, securing the series victory.
Alzarri Joseph’s Walking Off Incident
The controversy unfolded in the fourth over of the match when Joseph expressed his dissatisfaction with a field placement set by Hope. After taking the wicket of Jordan Cox, Joseph left the field in apparent protest, leaving the West Indies temporarily down to ten players.
He returned for the sixth over but did not bowl again until the twelfth over. Despite this disruption, Joseph completed his full quota of ten overs, finishing with figures of 2 for 45.
Watch the full incident here:
Cricket West Indies (CWI) addressed Joseph’s behavior in a statement, emphasizing that it fell short of their standards. Miles Bascombe, CWI Director of Cricket, stated, “Alzarri’s behavior did not align with the core values that Cricket West Indies upholds. Such conduct cannot be overlooked, and we have taken decisive action to ensure the gravity of the situation is fully acknowledged.”
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Apology from Alzarri Joseph
In response to the incident and subsequent ban, Joseph issued a public apology. “I recognize that my passion got the best of me,” he said. “I have personally apologized to captain Shai Hope and my teammates and management. I also extend my sincerest apologies to the West Indies fans — I understand that even a brief lapse in judgment can have a far-reaching impact, and I deeply regret any disappointment caused.”
Joseph’s actions drew criticism from head coach Daren Sammy, who remarked on the need for professionalism within the team culture. “Behaviour like that is unacceptable on my cricket field,” Sammy stated. “We will be friends…but in the culture I’m trying to build, that’s unacceptable. We will definitely have a chat about that.”
The suspension means that Joseph will miss the start of the upcoming five-match T20I series against England, which is scheduled to begin on November 10.
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