“Annoyed” and “hurt” with the absence of West Indies within the Champions Trophy, the legendary Sir Vivian Richards desires the Caribbean aspect to take a leaf out of Afghanistan’s book to re-establish themselves as a drive in world cricket.
West Indies and Sri Lanka, the 2 former ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy successful sides, failed to make the reduce for the eight-team occasion being performed in Pakistan and Dubai.
“I’m just hoping that my West Indies team can take a leaf out of these guys’ book, because there is a passion and energy that the Afghanis have brought to the game,” Richards, who’s the governing council member of the International Masters League, advised media on Sunday.
“They haven’t been in the cricket world for so long as maybe some other teams around the world, but just their fighting spirit. To me, the ability to learn as the years go by, that would have given them the experience that’s needed in order for them to be where they’re at,” he mentioned in a digital interplay.
“When you can see Afghanistan in the Champions League, and the West Indies not, it means that Afghanistan is doing something right,” he mentioned.
Considered gritty minnows not way back, Afghanistan have now turn out to be a good drive within the Asian area on the again of some constant exhibiting.
Richards mentioned West Indies will want efforts from everybody concerned, not simply the gamers, to enhance. Apart from lacking the continued Champions Trophy, the West Indies had additionally not taken half within the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
“In order for us to get ourselves back where we once were, it is going to take maybe not just the players, but individuals from the board, people who are in responsible positions,” he mentioned.
“For them to believe that this is not just the players, but it takes people from the board to identify the things that may be missing, (as to) why we are not there.” “I feel very annoyed with the fact that the West Indies team, with such (a) huge legacy, is not in the Champions Trophy and it hurts. It makes me feel very, very sad, because we are much better than that,” he mentioned.
Richards mentioned West Indies want individuals on the executive half to realise what it will take to hold the Caribbean aspect amongst high groups in world, or else they might hold struggling.
“The advice that maybe I can give in the future is for everyone who identifies that West Indies need to be at the very top tier of world cricket, (and) until we identify that, we’ll be basically in a position where we will continue to struggle,” he mentioned.
ICC should reply the query on CT scheduling
Not figuring out if they might be enjoying their Champions Trophy semifinal in Dubai or in Lahore, each Australia and South Africa travelled to the UAE in anticipation as their opponent will likely be determined after the end result of the India-New Zealand contest on Sunday.
While Australia travelled to the UAE on Saturday, South Africa had been slated to board a flight out of Pakistan on Sunday.
With India enjoying all their matches of the competitors in Dubai, the ultimate may even be on the Dubai International Stadium offered Rohit Sharma’s group makes the summit conflict.
Former England cricketers Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton had additionally lately mentioned India have the benefit of not having to journey to the opposite venues.
“People may have a point when they say that. I guess that’s due to politics — I don’t want to get into the politic side of things,” he said.
“But I believe the people who are responsible, in terms of the governing and the ruling of the game in itself which is the ICC, they’re the ones who I think got the problem.”
“I would like them to come up with an answer, why? If they are the governing body of cricket, why is that happening at present? I honestly believe one of the things that can bring all of us together, fans and everyone, even enemies together, (is) sports,” he said.
Published – March 03, 2025 04:18 am IST
