Although England is called the father of cricket, but at one time the real king of this game was West Indies. In 1975, when the ODI World Cup was played for the first time, the Windies became the champions. After this in 1979 the second season was also in the name of this team. In 1983, the team reached the finals for the third consecutive season. However, the Indian team under the captaincy of Kapil Dev shocked the World Champion. This was the last time the Windies reached the final of the ODI World Cup. Although the Windies team has never been underestimated but what happened this time is more shocking and embarrassing. This will be the first time that the ODI World Cup will be played without a Windies team. Former team captain and leading all-rounder Jason Holder is also very saddened by this failure. He called this time as his worst time. Also gave special advice to the board and cricketers to uplift the declining graph of Windies cricket.
The former West Indies captain said that any short-term plan will not help West Indies cricket. For this, changes have to be made at the ground level. West Indies’ performances have seen ‘ups and downs’ in the last few years. So quick improvement cannot be expected. We need to do more work and spend more time on it. As I said, the most important thing is that there needs to be development at the ground level. We hope to see the fruits of this in the next few years.
Let it be known that this West Indies team made up of poor and oppressed small countries gave many great players to the cricket world. Great batsmen like Vivian Richards, Clive Lloyd, Brian Lara to Chris Gayle, Sir Gary Sobers, Carl Hooper to Dwayne Bravo, Carlos Brathwaite, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Malcolm Marshall, Courtney Walsh, Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Curtly A Curtombrose, Hoof bowlers like Andy Roberts.. the list is very long. There are many names whose presence on the field made the opposing team tremble. The team had an army of big-bodied players. The whole world of the team was talking. Even today his name is mentioned with great respect in the Cricket World Cup.
The franchise cricket craze ruined the West Indies
The West Indies team consisting of players from smaller countries like Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Dominica appears scattered in the international squad. The team has talent like Sir Vivian Richards, but lacks the passion to perform for the team. The T20 franchise cricket craze and their pursuit of money has ruined West Indies international cricket. The team is looking for a leader who can gather these talented players and guide them like Clive Lloyd so that international cricket can survive. Not that this team can’t make a comeback. Under the captaincy of Heath Streak and Tatenda Taibu, Zimbabwe challenged India in international cricket. Then came the bad phase and now the same team has risen once again. Under the captaincy of Craig Irvine, the team is all set to qualify for the World Cup once again. If Zimbabwe can do it why not Windies?
Responses of many players are coming out regarding the West Indies team. Meanwhile, Virender Sehwag advocated good team management and a politics-free organization. What a shame, Sehwag tweeted. West Indies failed to qualify for the World Cup. It shows that talent alone is not enough, concentration and good team management is also needed which is free from politics. The only reassurance is that there is no room for further decline from here.
Madanlal tweeted that it was sad to see West Indies not qualify for the 2023 World Cup. This is his own fault as he is only interested in the T20 league. There is no pride in playing for the country. Former Test opening batsman and now commentator Akash Chopra called this disappointing but not surprised. Chopra tweeted that the West Indies team is out of the World Cup. This is not surprising given the decline in their standards over the years.