West Indies will be preparing to participate in the 2019 World Cup qualifiers next month in Zimbabwe and they got a big shock as some of the big stars refused to become available for the tournament.

One of them was star off-spinner Sunil Narine and he has now cleared the air why he pulled out of naming himself in the Windies squad.

Narine said to the Massy United Insurances Line & Length TV show, “I just don’t want to rush back into International cricket and the 50-over game. I think I need to play some 50-overs cricket at the regional level and get accustomed again.”

Narine continued, “I don’t want to rush back into it (international cricket) and make a mess of myself. I think it’s about my self-performance, self-belief and trying to go out there and perform for T&T and once I can do that I will be available for West Indies again. I think playing for the West Indies is the ultimate goal. I think you must try and enjoy your cricket and enjoy it no matter what. So, I will see how these games go in the Super50 and if I am comfortable and enjoying it, why not, I will play for West Indies again.”  

Narine, along with Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell, had been invited to join the squad by Cricket West Indies, but had “indicated that they were unavailable to help us qualify as their priority was playing in the Pakistan Super League.”

Narine last played ODI cricket for Windies against Pakistan in 2016 in UAE. He faced injuries and personal problems, that kept him from playing for West Indies despite been selected in 2017.

Talking about Winides’ chances of qualification, Narine said, “I think they can [qualify]. They have a good team. They just need to enjoy the cricket, be positive and once they are enjoying it, they can play as well as they want to.”

West Indies will play in Group A of the qualifiers against Ireland, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea and the winners of the ICC World Cricket League Division 2.