With the next World T20 being scheduled in 2020, Sammy said the 'seniors' have that extra motivation to do well in the 2016 edition © AFP
The only world championship the once-mighty West Indies have won in the last three and a half decades is the ICC World Twenty20, in 2012. And Darren Sammy, who is at the helm once again, is convinced that his team could go all the way this time too - despite being without proven match-winners like Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine.
"Obviously, it's difficult to replace Pollard and Narine, who were key members of our side when we won the World T20 in 2012, but we still have a very good side," the skipper claimed on Tuesday (March 8).
"We have Carlos Brathwaite, who has replaced Pollard, and he is an exciting all-rounder. I hope he will play a big part in the tournament. There's also (Ashley) Nurse who has come in place of Narine. He (Nurse) brings in some batting capability as well," said Sammy, who has featured in all but one of the previous five World T20 meets.
"We have a fairly balanced side with 15 potential match-winners. The good thing for us is we have so many guys who play in the IPL and are familiar with the conditions in India. We really believe we can win the World Twenty20," Sammy asserted.
Refusing to dwell on the players' latest contracts row with the West Indies Cricket Board, Sammy said the team was well prepared after a week-long camp in Dubai and focused solely on cricket. "Once you step out on the cricket field, you should not be worried about contracts and other stuff. We are all professionals. Right now, we are going into the World Twenty20 and that's what our focus is on. It's about making your country proud."
For a team that is packed with allrounders who bowl decent medium-pace and can pack quite a punch with the bat lower down the order, T20 is its forte. And with the next World T20 on the ICC calendar being scheduled in 2020 (in Australia), the 'seniors' have that extra motivation to do well in the upcoming tournament.
"This event means a lot to some of us. The next World Twenty20 will be four years later and a few of our guys won't be part of that event, so this one is very important for us," remarked 32-year-old Sammy, referring to himself, Chris Gayle (36 years), Marlon Samuels (35), Sulieman Benn (34) and Dwayne Bravo (32).
The fact that the Caribbean cricketers play most of their T20 cricket in different leagues around the world, rather than as a unit for West Indies, is not worrying Sammy at all. "Ideally we want to play international cricket together. But when I look at my dressing room, I see Gayle, Bravo, (Andre) Russell, (Samuel) Badree, Samuels... All these guys are experienced players who know the ins and outs of T20 cricket. It's one format of the game that we are really confident about.
Asked if someone like Gayle will be assigned any special role, Sammy said, "Chris is a massive figure for us, not just on field but off it as well. For me he's the best T20 batsman, the most destructive one. He knows his job, I don't have to tell him how to go about it."
Acknowledging the 'massive boost' the Caribbean colts have given West Indies cricket by winning the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh last month, Sammy said his team will try to emulate the juniors' achievement. "Cricket is the glue that unifies the Caribbean nations, so whichever team does well, it's always a massive plus for the people in the region. So not just us, even the West Indies women's team will try their best to lift the trophy on April 3," Sammy signed off.
© TNN
No comments:
Post a Comment