The West Indies team performed tremendously on the India tour. After trailing 0-2 in the ODI series, the Caribbean team chased record runs in the last match and then drew the T20 series 2-2. The West Indies team entertained the fans by giving a tough fight to Team India but will return empty handed from India. She neither could win the series nor did she get any money. According to ICC's revenue model, all the money earned from the series of Rs 285 crore will remain with host India.
West Indies team head coach Darren Sammy said on this model that Caribbean cricket needs support. Pointing to the financial challenges of West Indies cricket, he said that there should be a sense of caring for others.
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Someone has to support West Indies cricket – Sammy
West Indies cricket is finding it difficult to survive financially under the current revenue sharing model adopted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1997. Sammy said after the fifth and final T20 match was canceled due to rain on Saturday night, 'My mother always said that you should have a feeling of caring for others. Whatever you do in life, you should never lose this feeling. I think now West Indies cricket needs someone who can support it financially.
He said, 'Playing such a series in India against the best team in the world gives us an opportunity to interact at a better level with the people who can help us.'
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Team India is strong due to better economic condition
Comparing the situation of Indian and West Indies cricket, Sammy said that strong economic system and planned development have a big impact on the performance of the team. He said, 'Whenever India goes to play in an ICC tournament, it is expected to win the World Cup. The Indian team also comes with the expectation of winning. This is because they have made necessary arrangements for this.
He said, 'When West Indies goes to play in any tournament, it has to perform well despite all the challenges. There is a big difference between these two situations. On one hand, necessary arrangements are in place while on the other hand, one has to perform while facing challenges. Despite this, we are moving forward and I think we have taken a big step.
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Will Windies cricket improve with a good performance against India?
Sammy hopes that after this performance against India, Cricket West Indies will be able to negotiate with sponsors and other stakeholders with more confidence. He said, 'Hopefully after this series our communication with stakeholders and sponsors will be better than before. If we get investment, we can reach a situation where the entire system can be strengthened.
Apart from the financial challenges, Sammy also expressed happiness over the team's performance and the change in the confidence of the players. He said that playing against a strong opponent like the Indian team has helped the players to increase their confidence in their abilities. He said, 'We all know what it means to play for the West Indies and what challenges one has to face during it. It is a big thing to play well in the shorter format against a team that has been performing well for such a long time. All the players in the dressing room performed on the field with positive thinking.
He said, 'The best thing is that the team's old confidence and fearless style has returned. It started during the preparation itself. The players were enjoying the game and their desire to win was visible. It starts here – with the belief that we deserve to play at this level and our performances prove it.