Lambert

Former Jamaica captain, Tamar Lambert, has expressed shock and disappointment at being left out of the island's 14-man squad to contest the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President's Cup that begins in Guyana on October 28.

"I am very surprised that I was not selected," the right-handed batsmen said of his omission from the team to be captained by sidelined West Indies skipper, Chris Gayle.

"I guess the selectors did not see me fitting into the 14. I will now just have to work hard and come back."

Chairman of selectors, Nehemiah Perry, commenting in the media about Lambert's non-selection, suggested that the player, who represented Jamaica on 48 occasions - the last time being in April this year - was not fit enough to gain selection.

Countering fitness claims

Lambert has dismissed those suggestions.

"I have been playing cricket, I am match fit," he said. "It was disheartening to hear Perry say that."

The chubby cricketer added that he underwent a fitness test at the start of training camp three weeks ago and since that time was told nothing regarding his fitness.

"As a senior player, I would have expected the trainer or the chairman of selectors to say something to me," Lambert argued, adding that even if there were concerns over his fitness, there was still time for him to get in shape as there were two weeks to go before the tournament gets under way.

Perry disagrees.

"We have to get past those days when people turn up to camp hoping to get fit at camp," said Perry, who describes Lambert as a friend.

He said they did not believe Lambert wouldhave been able to get in shape in the two weeks remaining before the start of the tournament.

The chairman of selectors said each player was sent an email shortly after the end of the regional four-day tournament in June, emphasising the need for them to report to camp in good physical condition. Lambert, he said, did not.

Perry revealed that last season, Lambert, who is about five feet, six inches tall, reported to camp at about 236 pounds with a body fat percentage of about 28 per cent, way over the 17 per cent body fat he reported with last season.

He added that Lambert failed several of the fitness tests, including a mile-and-a-half endurance run, and failed to complete others.

The 14-man squad was supposed to be involved in a game at Elletson Road yesterday, but Lambert said he was not invited to attend.

He claims that yesterday morning he saw Perry, who told him that he was trying to get in touch with him but that he did not have a number for him. As a result, he said he did not attend the match.

He said rumours suggesting a poor relationship with Gayle may have led to his exclusion from the squad were unfounded.

"Gayle and I have spoken," he said. "We have a good relationship. We get along quite well."

Resigned to his fate of possibly not representing his country this season, Lambert said he now has to focus on working harder and trying to get back his place in the squad.