West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell on Wednesday (April 29) slammed Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise Jamaica Tallawahs for their "unprofessionalism" and termed it the "weirdest" team he has ever turned up for.
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Russell’s comments came just a day after Chris Gayle accused Tallawahs' chief executive officer Jeff Miller and owner Krish Persaud of "playing a game" with him and also ripped apart former teammate Ramnaresh Sarwan for his ouster from the franchise.
"This year was way different. This is the weirdest franchise that I have ever played in. And when I mean weird, people that [are] supposed to reach out to you as an individual, and I am not just a normal player in the Jamaica Tallawahs team - I was once a leader. I realise how they look at things and how they do things," Russell quoted as saying by India Today.
"I felt like a first-class player that just made his debut one game ago. Your opinion is not valuable. That's how I was treated," he added.
Russell also claimed that he never got a reply of his queries and the franchise always kept him in dark.
"Even when I ask questions: who you guys planning on retaining? Who you guys planning on buying? I don't get no answer on that. So, I just leave it."
The 32-year-old feels lack of communication was the main problem with the franchise.
"Addressing unprofessionalism in this team is all about communication. The communication was the biggest problem when it comes to all of this. Up till now, I don't know nothing that is going on. I don't know nothing that was happening in the Jamaica Tallawahs team. And now it looks like me, Rovman, Floyd Reifer plan up, and I get rid of Chris. Why would I get rid of Chris? Chris have a three-year contract with Tallawahs. You're not supposed to breach a contract. As a franchise you can get in trouble with that."
In the end, Andre Russell concluded that this might be his last season playing for Tallawahs.
"I think this might be my last season for Jamaica Tallawahs. I'm just clearing the air."
