Darren Sammy's unceremonious sacking pushes West Indies cricket in further turmoil
Sun, Aug 7, '16
Victory or defeat, they believe in celebration. They are jovial, happy-go-lucky, and full of life. With Reggae music running in the background and a bottle of beer in their hand, the kind of joyful enthusiasm the crowd displays in the Caribbean is infectious. And the credit goes to the West Indian cricketers. With superior performances one after another, they commanded respect and adulation in the 70s and 80s. Unfortunately, as a fan, I wasn’t a part of the era, but I did grow up listening to the tales of their domination in 90s. Gradually, I became a wanna-be West Indian, so much so that I stayed up late nights to cherish the ‘Caribbean brand of cricket’, albeit being an ardent Team India fan. Also read - IND vs WI 2nd Test: Hosts’ endurance bolsters Test cricket credentials
As a matter of fact, that doesn’t happen anymore. The once-easygoing and cool West Indian cricket has been in a state of turmoil for the past half a decade. More than the cricketers, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) often made headlines. Players were not being paid the due amount, and even threatened to abandon the scheduled series. Captains were being changed for no apparent reason. Players were being sacked, citing disciplinary issues. One thing led to another and my fandom is no longer the same.
