Sarwan

West Indies middle-order batsman, Ramnaresh Sarwan, says he is ready to don the colours of the West Indies again, now that the impasse between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) seems to be coming to an end.

Sarwan, who was among several past and present West Indies and Jamaica cricketers who turned out in their numbers on Sunday to support Chris Gayle's Pro 15/15 celebrity charity match at St Ann Bauxite Oval, said not representing the region against Bangladesh and at the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa felt odd, but now that things seem to be returning to normal, himself and other senior players were looking to get back into the fold.

Overlooked

"For us to get an opportunity to go on the field again is really great. We miss representing the region," said Sarwan, who was among several West Indies star players, who made themselves unavailable for the Bangladesh Series and were subsequently overlooked for the Champions Trophy.

"It felt a little bit strange seeing the West Indies playing both against Bangladesh and in the Champions Trophy and I wasn't there. But we made a decision as a group and had to stand by that decision.

"We are very pleased to know that the WICB and WIPA have come to an agreement and are working at a final solution. We hope that things continue and there will be an amicable solution for everyone, so that what happened will never happen again," he added.

The 29-year-old Guyanese, whose team, Trelawny All-Stars XI, included double Olympic and world sprint champion, Usain Bolt, and was a hit with fans throughout the three-match 15-over-a-side event, said he was also pleasantly surprised at the fan support despite the trying circumstances.

"It shows that they still love us and want to see us succeed, no matter what," he said, referring to the near 20,000 fans who showed up for Sunday's event.

"To represent the West Indies and six million people around the Caribbean is always an honour and to come here and get the response we have been getting despite the circumstances is really a good feeling," he added.

Other current West Indies players who turned up for the spectacle included Gayle, Jerome Taylor, Darren Powell, Shawn Findley, Xavier Marshall, Wavell Hinds, Carlton Baugh Jr, Sulieman Benn, Corey Collymore and Pedro Collins, while the past legends who turned up included Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Ridley Jacobs, Richie Richardson and Winston Benjamin.