Best thought enough was enough and decided to join the Indian Cricket League. He would join Mumbai Champs, led by the former West Indies skipper Brian Lara, and even though he has risked whatever slim chances he had of making a comeback to international cricket, Best is looking forward to this new form of cricket.

He spoke to Newsline about his experiences so far.

Excerpts:

* You must be disappointed obviously at being ignored by the West Indies Cricket Board time and again.
Of course it disheartens me a lot. I was not given a fair opportunity. Keeping in mind my domestic record, the Board should have selected me in the side. In my seven seasons for Barbados I have taken 182 wickets at 28.24. Barbados has won the first-class competition thrice during my career, including last season. It was frustrating not to get a call-up to the West Indies squad despite being one of the most successful bowlers in the first-class circuit for the past ten years.

* What according to you might have worked against you?
I have always bowled from the heart and at a fast pace. And I love showing aggression on field, I get into the bowling groove when I challenge and provoke the batsman to hit me out of the park. My Barbados teammate Fidel Edwards is another fast bowler who was crafted into the National side and I reckon I am far better than him; but sadly I was sidelined. The selection committee it seems is not fond of my bowling abilities or may be they want West Indies to have just medium-pacers and not the fast ones.

* In 2004, at Lords during a Test Match against England you were dismissed when English all-rounder Andy Flintoff sledged you, asking you to step out of the crease and target the windows at Lords. What had happened?
(Laughs), I got out stumped to Ashley Giles, yes, trying to target the windows at Lords, but I enjoyed it. These things happen in cricket. Flintoff being a medium-pacer likes to pass on words to the opposition, and he did that by asking me, “’Watch the windows, Tino!”, and I fell prey to his provocation. Till there are no racial remarks sledging is fine, it goes with the spirit of the game.