Retired, gone to pick up award

West Indian batting star and Bangalore Royal Challenger-to-be Shivnarine Chanderpaul had a great 2007 by any measure. He averaged 111 with the bat in Tests, and 76 in one-dayers, where his output included four centuries. A worthy winner, it would seem, of the West Indies Players Association's awards for Test player of the year, ODI player of the year and West Indian International Cricketer of the Year.

Chanderpaul collected all three major awards at the WIPA's annual gong show in Trinidad on Sunday night. One thing, though. On Saturday he turned out for Guyana at the start of a four-day Carib Beer Series game against the Windward Islands at Providence Stadium. Chanders had a good afternoon at the crease. At the end of play on Saturday he was 78 not out, sharing an unbeaten 151-run stand with his captain, Travis Dowlin.

And then on Saturday night, he packed his bags and flew to Port-of-Spain. Without telling his team management.

Chanderpaul was deemed to be "retired, out" on his overnight score. Guyana were all out for 396, before conceding the first innings lead to the Windwards, who made 467 in reply.

At stumps on Monday, Guyana, with ten batsmen at their disposal, were 29 for 1. They are still 42 runs behind with one day to play.

There's more on Chanderpaul's prima donna weekend at CaribbeanCricket.com.

I hope Shiv makes the most of those prizes he picked up on Sunday. I can't imagine the WIPA will be sending any more his way. Bangalore, this is what you're getting.