Two-time T20 World Champions, the Caribbean team failed to even qualify for the Super 12 round and came home early in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022.
Many criticized West Indies cricket, pointing out the weaknesses of the administration as well as the poor playing style of the players. Also, captain Sammy, who won the Twenty20 World Cup twice, commented on this defeat of the West Indies team from time to time in various interviews.
Sammy once again spoke about this fate of West Indies cricket in an exclusive interview with PTI.
“It hurts man, it hurts.” Darren Sammy’s eyes were a sad smile when him about the terminal decline of West Indies cricket.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has suffered from financial difficulties in the past and is a small board financially. Therefore, the amount of salary that West Indies players get is much less than that of an Indian A team player. Because of that, many players are more motivated to earn money by playing leagues.
Commenting on this, the former captain said that unlike the BCCI, the West Indies Board of Control can never stop its players from choosing franchise leagues over playing for island nations.
“India is strong because they can tell their players that you don’t play anywhere else. You have to understand that they have the money to back it up,” Sammy told PTI in an exclusive interview on what ails West Indies cricket.”
“An India A list contracted player could probably make a million dollar a year (Rs 7 crore plus match fees plus TV rights money) compared to a Windies A lister, who would earn $150,000 (Rs 1.2 crore roughly).”
“That’s a massive difference and obviously the question of pay (disparity) will always come up. It’s very difficult for smaller boards (in terms of financial might) to keep their players together when they are handsomely paid elsewhere.”
Also, Sammy bluntly said, “Gone are those days when you played for love. Love doesn’t buy you groceries from supermarket.”
Kiwi cricket was in this crisis for some time and now they don’t schedule international cricket during IPL. Sammy says that CWI can learn something from how they operated.
“So, it’s a tough period. I think NZC does it quite well (no international cricket scheduled during IPL). If NZC can do it, it comes down to communication. It’s upto the players and the boards to get a working system.”
“If you say, you are committed to me (player to board or vice versa), then some level of sacrifice has to happen. You can’t be committed to me when nothing else is available for you.”
This year’s World Cup squad was highly controversial and several players like Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Febian Allen were overlooked. At one point, CWI and Russell exchanged heated conversations.
In a press conference, head coach Phil Simmons stated that players cannot be begged to play. Also, Dr. Desmond Haynes said that according to the information he has gathered, Russell and Narine will not play for the West Indies.
However, Russell and Narayan responded by saying that West Indies are still number one and their aim is to win one or two World Cups in wearing maroon colours.
Sammy was not too happy about seniors like Russell being ignored by the CWI and said that communication is a two-way street and both the players and the CWI need to get on the same page.
“I think it cuts both ways (referring to the communication gap). But one also needs to show the desire to play. Desire is gauged by action.”
“I can say ‘I want to play, I want to play’ but if my actions don’t show that, obviously there will be communication gap,” Sammy said in a message for Russell.”
“I don’t know what kind of communication happened among guys like Russell, Fabien Allen and Cricket West Indies but it wasn’t good enough. But then in CPL we have had young players who have outshone Russell and Co.”
Also he firmly believes that being a star freelancer in global leagues can make you the most sought-after player but there are dangers when playing occasional T20Is for the country.
“I don’t know what motivates them (players) but one thing I know for sure. When West Indies won two T20 World Cups in 2012 and 2016, in that phase our domination was because all our top T20 players were still regularly playing international cricket.”
“Some were playing Test matches and a lot of them were playing ODIs. Facing international bowlers was always there.”
“You can play ‘n’ number of leagues but it is hard to play T20 leagues for long time and one fine day appear for your national team and expect that you will create magic. That doesn’t happen.”
“Take the example of Alex Hales. For four years, he faced franchise bowling and as good a player Alex is, at international level, you have three to four bowlers always on song. To play that high level, you have to practice at that high level.”
Sammy, who commented further, said that he can’t even think of a West Indies team that doesn’t even have a Super 12.
“For decades, it was our thing. When we came to T20 World Cups, win or lose, we had that fear factor in our jersey Numbers. The teams knew that they would have to bring their A game.”
“But that’s not the case at the moment. To think of a West Indies team not among the top 12 of a T20 World Cup is unimaginable.”
So, considering that there is a certain pride associated with playing for the flag, it was asked whether playing for Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana at least in T20Is could be a solution and Sammy rejected the idea outright.
“No, I don’t think that will work as West Indies have too much history to be disintegrated into island nations. Also, a practical difficulty is that all the islands don’t have enough quality players to play for the nation.”