Haven’t played IPL for a while, but I pay close attention to it: Daren Sammy

Daren Sammy, the veteran West Indies cricketer, hasn’t played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the 2015 edition when he represented the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). However, despite not being a part of the cash-rich tournament, he, ardently, follows the tournament.

In 22 IPL matches, Sammy scored 295 runs with a solitary half-century and also picked up 11 wickets. The 36-year-old is impressed by the pool of talent that the IPL generates and is waiting eagerly for the upcoming season, starting September 19 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“I have not played IPL for a while so I am not gonna miss it but yes, it’s the tournament I follow and I pay close attention to it because the games are always exciting, I love to see young talent coming in and I have some of my colleagues who also play in the IPL so I am looking forward to it this year,” Sammy was quoted as saying in Inside Sport.

I am showing solidarity with the BLM movement: Daren Sammy

Sammy, who’s currently a part of the St Lucia Zouks, has also shown his support for the ‘Black Live Matter’ movement. Earlier, he was vocal about how he was addressed during his stint in the IPL. Even during the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL), he has supported the campaign.

“I have been advocating that it’s important to treat everyone as equal regardless of the colour of their skin so yes, I am proud to be taking part in the anti-racism campaign and I am showing solidarity with it. I am probably the only player who is playing with the black lives matter logo on the back of my shirt in the CPL so it’s important for me,” he added.

Sammy is having a decent time in the CPL for the Zouks. His team was the underachievers in the CPL until 2019 when they mostly finished at the bottom of the points table. But this time around, having won five out of their first seven games, the Zouks are placed second after table-toppers Trinbago Knight Riders, who are sitting pretty with victories in all their seven matches.