The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket
West Indian great Michael Holding has today questioned the qualification process for the World Cup's Super Sixes, saying blood and sweat counted for little.
Holding, a member of the World Cup's technical committee, believes giving Zimbabwe and Kenya the points forfeited by England and New Zealand for refusing to play in those countries had undermined the competition.
Ramnaresh Sarwan was the central figure as the West Indies fell just short against Sri Lanka on Friday, pushing them close to an early exit from the World Cup. Sarwan came back out to bat after having hospital treatment following a blow on the head from a Dilhara Fernando a bouncer.
And the West Indies batsman defied medical opinion to hit a heroic unbeaten 47 that brought the Windies close to victory in Cape Town.
West Indies captain Carl Hooper said his team only had themselves to blame for their almost certain early World Cup exit.
While the former world champions still have a slight chance of making the Super Sixes if they win their final game against Kenya and other results go their way, Hooper said their six-run loss to Sri Lanka yesterday was effectively the end of the road.
Phew. In the end Sri Lanka beat West Indies by six runs, but it was a match which had more twists than an Giant Slalom course.
The outcome was in balance until the penultimate ball - that West Indies got as close as they did was thanks to a brave and belligerent innings of 47 not out from Ramnaresh Sarwan, who returned from hospital to take West Indies within one strike of victory. As it is, the result means that they almost certainly will miss out on a Super Six place.
You could easily forgive West Indies captain Carl Hooper for cursing his rotten luck after his team's World Cup match against Bangladesh was washed out.
It cost the former world champions two crucial points and left them needing to win their remaining Group B games against Sri Lanka and Kenya to stay in the tournament. But Hooper sees it differently, insisting the team will be better off in the long run by playing such a big match.