BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,CMC - Rising West Indies batting star Ramnaresh Sarwan, widely regarded as a future West Indies captain, says he has only distant thoughts of becoming the regional team's skipper.
The 22-year-old Guyanese told reporters shortly after West Indies World Cup players arrived at the Grantley Adams International Airport from South Africa on Friday he would not want to be plunged into the role of West Indies captain without proper preparation.
"That is so far away, I haven't captained Guyana and I think that (West Indies captaincy) won't be for some time because I would have to get some sort of experience before I get into that," said Sarwan, who led the West Indies batting average in their failed World Cup attempt.
The current team leaders are in their mid-thirties and nearing the end of their careers.
Captain Carl Hooper is 36-years-old and admitted last week he was considering retirement before selection chairman Sir Vivian Richards dissuaded him, and vice-captain Ridley Jacobs is 35 years old.
"To captain the West Indies would be a dream come true," added Sarwan.
"I just don't want to be thrown into the deep end and then I might drown, so I just have to wait," said Sarwan, who averaged a remarkable 104.50 in the World Cup.
Sarwan, who became the youngest regional first-class player ever when he made his debut for Guyana in 1996 at 15 years and 245 days, has played 29 tests and 34 one-day internationals.
The solid right-hander has scored 1,720 test runs at an average of 37.39, and 1,281 runs in one-day internationals, averaging 55.70.
He also said he was looking forward to the Caribbean tour by the powerful Australians starting next month and hopes to do well against them.