Bassarath encouraged by new-look Windies
(Trinidad Express) The West Indies cricket team may have lost the T20I and ODI series against India but Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board president Azim Bassarath is seeing a lot of positives in their fighting performances on the subcontinent.
Bassarath, speaking after the regional side fell to defeat in the final ODI of the three-match series last Sunday, said the Windies had “built a strong platform to challenge top-tiered opponents in all formats of the game, after receiving a big boost by their spirited performance in recent tightly contested T20 and One-Day International matches against India.”
The Kieron Pollard-led West Indies limited overs teams were beaten 2-1 in both formats but the TTCB boss said there was much to be positive about and added that new captain of the WI white-ball team, Pollard, must be given credit for inspiring the Caribbean cricketers to one of their better showings in recent years against a top world team.
“After the West Indies were outclassed and outplayed earlier this year in the Caribbean by India, it was easy to dismiss their chances. But they were competitive and proved to be no pushovers for the highly-rated Indians at home,” said Bassarath. The TTCB official was also pleased with the individual performances of several youngsters including Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Hayden Walsh and Alzarri Joseph.
He said that the experience of Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis in the shorter format of the game helped keep West
Indies on an even keel against their starstudded hosts.
On the tour, West Indies also got the better of Afghanistan in T20s and in a oneoff Test match.
Bassarath said that the new Cricket West Indies administration under president Ricky Skerritt made the correct call in appointing Pollard as captain and the confidence placed in him was justified as the team played as a unit and were not intimidated by their opponents.
“If anything, the West Indies proved that they can compete with the best in the world and this augurs well for the future. We are seeing commitment and consistency which has been absent of late,” said Bassarath.
The TTCB leader said that the regional cricketers have bridged a great psychological divide and their supporters will expect greatly improved results as they continue to punch above their weight on the world stage.