Things have massively nosedived for the West Indies. It is fair to say that the mighty have fallen and the fall has been so steep that the former World Cup winning captain Clive Lloyd is worried that the West Indies might be struck for 100 years in the second tier of the World Test Championship (WTC) if the ICC starts the 2-tier system. While speaking about the Windies state of cricket on Tuesday, August 12, the legendary cricketer told the board to take swift action.
Notably, the West Indies Cricket Board held an emergency meeting after they were shot out 27, the second-ever lowest total in Test cricket history against Australia last month. The series was a mighty wake up call amongst the former cricketers and critics, given the hosts' capitulation and numerous other issues in the red-ball format.
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The Caribbean team are currently placed eight in ICC Teams Rankings in Test, and if the ICC decides to implement a two-tier system, it will take them ages to play the top four sides - Australia, India, South Africa & England.
Clive Lloyd's massive warning to Windies asks board to demand more money from ICC
Lloyd, who won back-to-back World Cup titles for West Indies in the 1975 & 1979 editions, gave a massive warning to the team if the two-tier system is implemented, then they will be struck there for 100 years. The expert also told the CWI Board to demand a bigger share of money to ICC.
“We have to look at what’s happening at the ICC with the share-out of the money. India, Australia, and England get 180 million, and the West Indies will get 80 million, like Bangladesh and Afghanistan, and we are just two years out of being in that group for 100 years,” Lloyd was quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“To me, it’s not right. We have to stand up. We have to go to the ICC and ask for special dispensation. Because when we were in the ascendancy, and we were playing so well, everyone wanted to play with us," he added.
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West Indies were a mighty force to reckon with in the 70s & 80s, so much so that all teams wanted to face them. With a fearsome pace bowling attack they possessed, they gave open challenges to teams to play and win against them. However, in the 90s and in the early 2000s, the West Indies could not assert the same dominance and they started fading quickly. The board also failed to retain its players due to differences with players & administrators.
“We were playing Australia very often, with England very often, and when we went to Pakistan or India, getting millions of people [to the grounds]. We need to get a better share of the pie because we were the cash cows for a long time. And we need to get some of that. I am hoping the board follows up on that recommendation, where we can be adequately given the money that is needed,” he concluded on the matter.
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For the unversed, the West Indies were whitewashed 8-0 by Australia in the three-match Test series and in the following five-match T20 series. Later, they also lost a T20I series 2-1 to Pakistan. However, the Caribbean nation finally redeemed itself against the Asian nation in the three-match ODI series, winning it 2-1. Skipper Shai Hope led from the front with a scintillating ton, and pacer Jayden Seales took six wickets to shot Pakistan out for just 92.
