West Indies Cricket legends Sir Curtly Ambrose and Shivnarine Chanderpaul were in the spotlight recently after they engaged in a lively discussion at a special event hosted by Parimatch, which is the Title Sponsor of the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
During the exclusive StarTalks session, moderated by RJ Madhav, the West Indies’ legendary duo answered questions from Parimatch users and journalists.
Both icons, who have long been key figures in West Indies’ cricket history, shared their insights on the challenges facing the sport in the region, their experiences as mentors. Last but not least, they also spoke about the changes they believe are necessary to revive the glory days of West Indies cricket
Ambrose who was one of the vital cogs of West Indies’ cricket history took 405 wickets in 98 Tests including 22 fifers whereas he took 225 wickets in 176 ODIs, laced with 4 fifers. On the other hand, Chanderpaul was one of the cornerstones of the team’s batting line-up during the heydays of his career.
He scored 11,867 runs in 164 Tests including 3 double centuries, 30 centuries and 66 fifties, whereas he scored 8778 runs in 268 ODIs, including 11 centuries and 59 fifties. The event started with personal and professional lives of the two cricketing greats before they went on to talk about their daily routines, how they tackle tough opponents and their strategies for bouncing back from defeats.
Sir Curtly Ambrose, the Brand Ambassador and Coach of the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons was optimistic about his team’s future, adding that they have a strong squad capable of braving the challenges to win the championship. “It’s good to be part of Antigua. We have a strong squad capable of winning games and poised to win this championship,” Ambrose added in a statement.
As things stand, Antigua and Barbuda Falcons are fourth on the CPL 2024 points table with four points (2 wins, 4 defeats). However, he stressed the fact that they haven’t unleashed their fury yet but is pretty confident that they will go about their work once they start winning games.
On the other hand, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Head Coach and Brand Ambassador of the Falcons, echoed Curtly Ambrose’s optimism while stressing his focus on developing young talent. “Cricket has been a crucial part of my life, and as a mentor, my focus is on inspiring the next generation,” Chanderpaul shared.
He emphasized the importance of staying dedicated, developing skills, and maintaining fitness for next generation players. “What’s gone is gone. To young players, my advice is simple, maintain your dedication, develop your skills, and stay fit,” he said, encouraging his players to focus on future games and opportunities.