Coach of the Pigotts Crushers cricket team Abdiel Hughes has labelled as disappointing, a decision by national, Leeward Islands and West Indies A player, Rahkeem Cornwall to remain with the Liberta Blackhawks for the upcoming domestic season.
Cornwall, in November of last year, had confirmed reports by Hughes that he would turn out for Crushers in 2017 instead of the Liberta Blackhawks, a team with which he has won a number of titles.
Fresh reports have however surfaced that Cornwall has decided to stay “at home”.
“Jimbo hasn’t said anything to me, but I heard along the wayside that he has been convinced to return to [Liberta]… I am very disappointed, because, you, as a man, have to make a decision and stand by your decision because you know why you said what you had said. So if you felt your pain, years of suffering and you made a choice to leave, then why are you letting someone convince you to go back under your pain and suffering. It makes no sense,” Hughes said.
Cornwall, last year, told OBSERVER media that his decision to move hinged on his desire to impart some of his knowledge to the young players in Pigotts.
One other Liberta player, Kadeem Phillip, had also confirmed his move to Pigotts Crushers.
According to Hughes, however, his preparations for the Antigua & Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) season are on course.
“You would get a barrage of senior players because you are going to a higher level. But what I am getting is a lot of young players coming into the fray. I have some senior players who have played that level of cricket before who would help these youngsters who are capable of playing first class cricket,” he said.
Crushers will play in the Cricket Association for the first time this season, but will maintain a presence in the Parish League programme via a second-string team.