Port of Spain: Former West Indies Players Association (WIPA) president Dinanath Ramnarine has called on the cricketing public to speak out in defence of suspended West Indies head coach Phil Simmons after he claimed that outside interference was hampering the selection of the team's One-Day International squad.

Ramnarine said he anticipates further backlash after Simmons publicly protested the omission of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the West Indies squad to tour Sri Lanka next month. Simmons was suspended on Monday, reports CMC.