Daren Sammy wants to see more investment in the side
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy is making an emotional appeal for financial support to revive Caribbean cricket, hoping the team’s spirited displays against India will help Cricket West Indies attract sponsors and secure greater investment.
After losing the three-match ODI series 2-1, West Indies pushed India hard in the five-match T20I series, holding the two-time defending T20 World Cup champions to a 2-2 draw. Sammy believes the performances should boost the team’s case to stakeholders and potential investors as West Indies cricket continues to face financial challenges.
Sammy said after the fifth and final T20I was washed out in Bengaluru on Saturday night: “Series like this, here in India against the best team in the world, puts us in a conversation closer to that.”
He compared India’s cricketing infrastructure and the challenges facing the West Indies, arguing that sustained investment and planning have helped India build a team accustomed to competing for major honours.
“India will win the World Cup every time they go somewhere in an ICC event. They expect to win. It is because of all the things they’ve put in place. When the West Indies goes somewhere, we’ve got to perform in spite of. Because and in spite... there are two different words,” he said.
The former West Indies captain was encouraged by the confidence and intent shown by his players against one of the world’s strongest teams.
“Look, we all know what it takes to play for the West Indies... the challenges. To play a team that has been so good for so long, especially in that format, it is a wonderful thing. All the guys in the dressing room, they’ve gone out there and played with intent,” he said.
“I think what was good to see was the swagger is back, the confidence is back. It started during the workup and you could see guys enjoying it and there was a willingness to win. And that’s where it starts. The belief that we belong where we are and to have the performances that says we belong there.”
Sammy credited spinners Roston Chase and Gudakesh Motie for their contributions during the T20I series, pointing to their ability to build pressure by restricting India’s scoring opportunities.
06 Apr, 2020
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