Recently, I returned from Japan via Miami and both stop overs showed how important sports is to both countries with the Olympics and World Cup Football in mind. On the other hand here in the Caribbean there’s little doubt that the people have become fed up and frustrated by the state of West Indies cricket given the severe trauma experienced over the last six months in particular. In fact, there is a view that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is on the verge of collapsing given the lack of care for the Sport.
Also, T&T is known of having sell out venues especially during T20 matches but recently it has struggled to compile a sizeable crowd on any of the three match days earlier this month. On the Thursday an estimated 4,500, Saturday 5,200 and finally on the Sunday 7,100 . Poor by any standard but given the appeal of cricket or lack thereof, it was a revealing comment from the public of T&T.
Similarly, the early crowd at Guyana for the 50-Over game was described as lower than expected, of course a West Indies helped matches in the second one dayer, but the signs are there for all that want to observe , that the people of the region are visibly disturbed by West Indies cricket .
Whether it is a combination of the poor play of the West Indies or the considered disgust with the West Indies Cricket Board and the recent announcement that there is no change to the WICB Management.
Such a protest unfortunately will not change the composition of the WICB , unless the territorial boards themselves wake up or are given a clarion call by those who elect them.
There is little doubt, that 90% of the population of the Caribbean are disturbed by the constant fights between the WICB and the players, and now between the WICB and the Governments, with T&T Prime Minister stating: “That West Indies cricket has been hijacked.” It is a perhaps a belief that is being echoed by many in the region .
However, it is imperative that the correlation between the loss of ranking (in Test and one day international and T20 cricket) are all related to the fact, that the West Indies team at present is playing a second string team which is struggling to cope with high quality opposition in all forms of the game.
Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, Samuel Badree, Andre Russell, Denesh Ramdin, Sunil Narine, Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, Dwayne Smith, Nicholas Pooran and Jerome Taylor are some of the players that have been missing from West Indies colours for many reasons, not least will be the treatment that they have experienced in the past. Some have even retired from the game at one level or another. Where else would a country allow 12 or 13 of their best players to walk away or be pushed out with making an effort to solve the problems that exist .
In life you need to take responsibility for your actions, and the WICB must recognize the rejection that is brought about once you mention its name. People raise their eyebrows and just shake their heads.
How can we not understand that India have become a powerhouse in cricket through the exposure of their young players have received from the IPL, and the communication between the overseas based players and the Indian players.
And yet still the WICB, has sold all of its rights for a small amount for close to 50 years to an independent body, perhaps not confident that its a great revenue earner to the WICB and the Board lack the vision and skills to operate a successful league. I sure all will agree the CPL is running a successful league at present.
Perhaps the silent stadiums, the absent crowds, the demotion of the West Indies team to 10th place in every aspect of the game, behind Bangladesh and Ireland is what is needed for the WICB authorities to realize the error in its ineffective management style
It has reached a point that it has become too much to ask people to continue the fight for West Indies cricket.