Want to win another World Cup - or two more - for West Indies: Russell

Andre Russell said he is not done with international cricket and wants to win "another World Cup - or two more - for West Indies". The fearsome allrounder, however, hasn’t played for West Indies since the last T20 World Cup in November 2021.

West Indies head coach Phil Simmons recently said that the team management shouldn't be "begging" players to play for their countries. Responding to that comment, Russell posted on Instagram saying, "I know this was coming but am gonna stay quiet!!!" with four 'angry' emojis.

Speaking to former West Indies skipper Daren Sammy for Sky Sports, Russell, who is currently in England playing for Manchester Originals in the Hundred, said: "I'm going to be quiet, because at the end of the day, we had a discussion, and the discussion was very clear. So now, making me look bad, throwing me under the bus… I was expecting it. I'm going to stay quiet, Daren, to be honest." 

When asked about if he still wants to play for West Indies, Russell said: "Of course, of course. The maroon is all over.

"Honestly, I have two franchise hundreds and I wish those hundreds were actually playing for West Indies. I don't regret saying this just now. I really enjoyed playing for Jamaica Tallawahs but those two hundreds, it would be more special coming in international cricket.

"I always want to play and give back. But at the end of the day, if we are not agreeing on certain terms, your terms are my terms (sic), and they have to respect my terms as well. At the end of the day, it is what it is. We have families and we have to make sure that we give our best opportunity while we have one career.

"It's not like I can start over again. I'm 34 and I want to win another World Cup - or two more - for West Indies because at the end of the day, I'm here now, and I'm just taking it day by day."

Russell will leave the ongoing Hundred competition next week to play for Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League, which will get underway from August 31. West Indies’ lead selector Desmond Haynes recently said that players who will do well in the forthcoming tournament will be considered for the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. 

"If there is a competition that is run by the West Indies [and] somebody is playing well, I think his name should really come up for selection," Haynes said last week.