Daren Sammy is hoping West Indies cricket “gets an arm around the shoulder” to aid with the current financial struggles.
West Indies played with heart and soul to become the first team since 2022 to deny India a series win in T20Is despite the tour starting just days after the Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced a pay cut for the players.
Sammy made an impassioned appeal to the cricketing world to help rescue them and insisted the regional side deserve greater investment and support. The West Indies head coach also suggested the outstanding performances at the top level of the five-match T20 series 2-2 against world champions India will attract sponsors and investors.
“I think it is important to understand what West Indies cricket means, not only to the region, but to the world and to the game. I’ve heard the stories of guys (from the past) spending three-four months in a place touring, playing warm-up matches, spreading their talent by the way they played and the fanbase that they created, and the revenue they generated for so many people,” Sammy said.
Care factor
“I think it’s important; my mum always says you must have a care factor. No matter what you do in life, human nature should never lose that care factor. I think we’re in a position where we need somebody to put a (hand around the shoulder of) West Indies cricket. Financially, that is, and series like this, here in India, against the best team in the world, puts us in a conversation closer to that.”
He spoke Saturday night in Bengaluru after the last T20I was washed out at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Only 7.4 overs were bowled as the home team reached 118 for five.
Massive step
Yesterday, the team travelled to Dhaka where they will have a twomatch Test series against Bangladesh. The tour will run until November 9 for a highly anticipated twomatch Test series which is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.
The action begins with a threeday warm-up match in Dhaka from October 22 to 24. Following this preparation, the opening Test match will take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, from October 28 to November 1. The teams will then travel to the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium for the second and final Test, scheduled for November 5 to 9.
Looking back at the strides made in India, Sammy added: “We understand what success means to us; we don’t ever take for granted where we are as a team and the challenges that we face. We just look to make those strides, and I think after this series, we have made a massive step. We played against the defending champions and we matched them . . . in certain areas we’ve outplayed them, especially in their backyard,” Sammy added.
“It’s a true reflection of how all the teams have played, especially for our guys. I’m pretty sure when the series started, we probably didn’t have a chance. But that was just the opinion of others. We would have liked to win because that’s something we have not done forever in India, so it would have been nice. I think the cup still is in our favour because we won the home leg the last time we played.” (PS)