BENGALURU, Oct 18: West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has appealed for greater financial support for Caribbean cricket, hoping his team’s spirited performances against India will help attract sponsors and fresh investment.
West Indies lost the three-match ODI series 1-2 but held the two-time defending T20 World Cup champions to a 2-2 draw in the five-match T20I series. The final match was abandoned due to rain on Saturday.
Sammy believes the competitive performances could strengthen Cricket West Indies’ position in discussions with sponsors and stakeholders as the board continues to face financial challenges under the International Cricket Council’s revenue-sharing system.
“My mom always said, you must have a care factor. No matter what you do in life, you should never lose that care factor. I think we’re in a position where we need somebody to put a shoulder around West Indies cricket — financially, that is,” Sammy said.
“Series like this, here in India against the best team in the world, puts us in a conversation closer to that.”
Comparing the two cricketing systems, Sammy said India’s success was supported by strong infrastructure, planning and financial resources, while West Indies often had to overcome significant challenges to compete at the highest level.
He hoped the team’s performances would help CWI secure investment to improve its overall cricketing structure.
Sammy was also encouraged by the renewed confidence and positive approach shown by his players, saying the team’s swagger and belief had returned. (PTI)