Ryan Hinds contemplating a break from cricket

Ryan Hinds, former West Indies international, is contemplating taking a break from the game in the aftermath of his sacking as Barbados captain. Hinds, while refusing to accept the reasoning provided by the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), failed to turn up for a national trial match at Kensington Oval on Thursday.

"Sometimes in life you get disappointments. I don't like to get into politics, but I felt it [his sacking] was a slap in the face to me," Hinds said. "I am still waiting on the reasons why I was rejected as Barbados captain. I'm just exhausted. I hope that people don't take it the wrong way. I want an opportunity to get my thoughts together."

Hinds was summoned to a BCA meeting on Wednesday and informed of the association's decision which led to him expressing his dissatisfaction and missing the trial match. According to reports, discussion surrounding his leadership skills formed part of the meeting after which he was advised to attend a seminar.

"I am supposed to be attending some sort of counselling which I am really shocked about. Once I come through these successfully, I'll be eligible to be the captain again," he said.

"To be quite fair, if they had to ask me to be captain again, I wouldn't take it. Within the last two years, I don't like the way I have been treated. When I first took over as captain from Courtney [Browne], there were a lot of discussions whether I would be captain or not the next year.

"A lot of it was personal. It was not cricket ability or my leadership skills. It was just personal. I don't think that was fair."

A veteran of 86 first-class matches since making his debut for Barbados as a 17-year-old, Hinds was unhappy with the support he received during his tenure as captain. "Words can't really explain how I feel now. My last four years since I took over as captain, my form has been good. I enjoyed captaining Barbados. I just want to say whoever the board selects as the captain would have my support."

Hinds, however, assured fans that being sacked as captain will not change his attitude and commitment towards the team. "I don't want the public to get the wrong idea, saying that just because he is not captain he is not turning up and he doesn't care about the cricket. That is not the case," he said.

It was announced later by Conde Riley, acting Barbados Cricket Association president, that Corey Collymore, the West Indies fast bowler, has been appointed Barbados captain.

Collymore, with 85 first-class matches in his career including 30 Tests, is looking forward to the assignment and has promised to give it his best shot. "It was never a dream of mine of captain Barbados. My dream was always to play for Barbados and by extension West Indies. To captain your nation or your country is always an honour and I will try to do it to the best of my ability."