Windward Islands captain Darren Sammy says it would be an honour if he was given the job of captaining the West Indies team, however, at the moment, his focus is trying to help his team capture the 2010 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President's Cup one-day tournament, which bowls off today across the country.

Sammy, who is one of two current West Indies players, the other being Australian-born Jamaican Brendan Nash, whose names are being touted as a possible replacements should the WICB decide to strip Gayle of the captaincy, following his decision not to re-sign a retainer contract with the board.

Gayle, along with vice-captain Dwayne Bravo, and Twenty20 batting prodigy Kieron Pollard, all opted out of the contract, in what is believed to be a move aimed at making themselves available for the lucrative Twenty20 club cricket contracts in India, Australia and England.

"When I started playing cricket I never dreamt of being West Indies captain, I just wanted to be a permanent fixture in the West Indies squad. So to be even thought of being a leader of the West Indies is an honour," declared Sammy.

"But with that said, I am looking forward to performing at this one-day tournament, and as to what the future holds, only the Almighty has control," he added the St Lucian.

Sammy, who turns 27 later this year, has been in and out of the West Indies team since making his one-day international debut in 2004. He has average of 24.19 in 43 one-day internationals appearances, and 19.40 in eight Test starts.

It is, however, not his statistics that have many cricket pundits, including noted cricket writer and commentator, Tony Cozier, calling for him to be considered for the post, but rather his leadership skills, which was evident when he captained the West Indies in a couple one-day internationals and Twenty20 matches prior to ICC World Twenty20 championship in April.

- J.L.

The 32 year-old Nash, in the meantime has an average of 37.04 in the 15 Tests, including two centuries and six half-centuries, is said to have a strong work ethic, and demonstrates a high level professionalism both on and off the field, which many believe is needed to help transform the fortunes of West Indies cricket.