Bravo needs to explain what is happening - Samuels
Marlon Samuels talks about his disagreement with Dwayne Bravo over West Indies' pullout from their India tour and holds WIPA president Wavell Hinds responsible for the payment dispute with the board

Marlon Samuels on Dwayne Bravo: "If he knows what is really going on go out there and speak. He came back to the Caribbean and until now he hasn't spoken. All he is doing is sending letters to this place." • AFP
Why I am not part of WIPA? My reason is I was a part of WIPA. Since I got the two-year ban I was left in the cold, on my own. I have to get my own lawyer. I have to do everything on my own. WIPA wasn't there for me. So I come back into cricket and choose not to be a part of WIPA because WIPA did not help me. So I do not feel like I should do anything for WIPA.
If you look at the situation, the real, real person here to be blamed is WIPA. Wavell Hinds, the (WIPA) president, basically messed up everything. If you look at the situation you can't really blame the board for accepting what Wavell has done. Wavell is the main problem here. But remember I am not part of WIPA.
I went to a couple of meetings.
Nothing in this lifetime surprise me when it comes down to mankind. Expect the unexpected.
One of the questions I asked was the public don't really know what is happening. The public are being misled. They need to know the truth behind this (pullout). They need to go out there and explain what is really happening. He wasn't willing to go and do that. That is why I say that if you are not up to doing what I want to go there and do, which is the right thing, then you are not going to get my full support. Otherwise everything is going to continue to go back and forth, back and forth and there is going to be a lot of discussions and nobody really knows what's really going on.
"This has nothing to do with India. This is our problem. So finish the tour and then go back to the Caribbean and sort out the problem. India is the most important team that West Indies play against. India is the greatest team that West Indies play against in every way possible. The relationship with India is too great. It is a wonderful relationship. You would never see an Indian player and a West Indian player having words against each other or cursing the other. It is not like against Australia or South Africa. There are a lot of Indians in the Caribbean. It is like a family."
No. I did not say that I am going to stand by any decision. Because nobody asked me questions like that. It is up to the individual to say okay I am with you. You had people in the room that didn't even open their mouth or say anything. At the end of the day I went there and asked my questions and I wasn't satisfied (by the response). If I was satisfied then I will be the first person to come out because I am an outspoken person. Then I will be the first person to come out and defend everything with him.
That is the thing to do if he wants to be in this position because this is a very serious matter. He didn't even listen to my interview because in his letter he is not even sure of what I did. What he should have done, if you are a true leader, is to go out and call the player and ask him did you say things like this?
I am in Jamaica and saw Jason Holder yesterday (Sunday). We have a long discussion. My words to him was his future is bright. This should not affect him… whenever he goes back to Barbados and focus and put in some hard work. He didn't get the opportunity that he wanted on the tour. The first game he get on the tour he was trying to do well. So he was putting in too much effort basically. So he wasn't getting it right and going for lot of runs. So I tell him next time in a situation like that do not pressure on yourself. Whenever you get the opportunity just go out there and try to be relaxed. You need to perform but without adding pressure on yourself. So we had a long conversation. These guys listen to what I have to say.
It has to be resolved because the most important thing is cricket. All I am saying is that we are already there in India. Right. Finish the tour. This has nothing to do with India. This is our problem. So finish the tour and then go back to the Caribbean and sort out the problem. India is the most important team that West Indies play against. India is the greatest team that West Indies play against in every way possible. The relationship with India is too great. It is a wonderful relationship. You would never see an Indian player and a West Indian player having words against each other or cursing the other. It is not like against Australia or South Africa. There are a lot of Indians in the Caribbean. It is like a family.
It has to be open. The matter needs to be resolved as soon as possible because as I said the most important thing is cricket. Remember for the young players this is their job. So administrators need to do something very fast so we can get back and try to put the best team possible back on the park. That is the main thing because West Indies cricket is falling behind. We cannot afford this situation to destroy everyone for much longer. So the sooner we can deal with this situation and the faster we can get back into the groove and start focusing on cricket again that would be the best thing for West Indian people.
I am willing and ready to be part of WIPA but a lot of changes need to be made.
Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo