Andre Russell snoozes West Indies to answer franchise calls

After announcing his international retirement, Andre Russell said, "I love playing for the West Indies."

But wait, isn’t this the same Russell who played only 17 T20Is in the last 4 years? In fact, there was a stretch where he didn’t play a single T20I between 6th November 2021 and 12th December 2023. That’s two whole years without donning the Windies jersey.

But hang on — in those exact two years, he didn’t miss a single IPL match. Clearly, the alarm clock for international duty was off… but the ringtone for franchise cricket? Always on full volume.

And it’s not just about the IPL. Among players who’ve represented the most number of franchises across global T20 leagues, Russell ranks in the top 10.

But honestly, can we even blame him? Because guess what — most of the players on that list are West Indians. Says a lot about how much their board prioritises its players.

So what do these poor guys do? They start putting franchise cricket above country. Because when the island doesn’t back you, the islands of cash surely do.

Russell's full statement on retirement:

“Words cannot explain what it meant. To represent the West Indies has been one of the proudest achievements in my life. When I was a kid, I did not expect to get to this level, but the more you start to play and get to love the sport, you realise what you can achieve. This inspired me to become better because I wanted to leave a mark in the maroon colours and become an inspiration to others."

“I love playing for the West Indies, and I love playing at home in front of my family and friends where I get to showcase my talent and produce more high-quality performances. I want to finish my international career on a high while being a role model for the next generation of cricketers coming out of the Caribbean.”

Also Watch: W.G. Grace’s birth anniversary: How a 126-year-old record still stands tall