West Indies coach, Phil Simmons has described Sheldon Cottrell’s lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) contract as “life-changing” but says he does not expect it to affect his career.
Cottrell, a left-arm fast bowler, was snatched up in the auction last month for US$1.2 million by Kings XI Punjab, making him one of the most expensive buys for this year’s competition.
“It will definitely be life-changing for anyone who gets a million dollars to play cricket,” said Simmons, a former West Indies all-rounder, adding, “I don’t think it is life-changing because he knows where he is at with West Indies cricket and he is the premier fast bowler right now in West Indies white-ball cricket.”
Cottrell has been West Indies’ standout bowler last year in the limited overs formats with 30 wickets from 23 One-Day Internationals and 14 scalps from 12 Twenty20 Internationals.
He was one of the few West Indies players to emerge from the World Cup debacle last year with his reputation intact after picking up 12 wickets.
In the King XI team he will meet with veteran West Indies opener Chris Gayle and left-handed batting teammate, Nicholas Pooran.
