ST JOHN’S, Antigua — In an explosive rebuke of West Indies cricket’s prime management, legendary quick bowler Sir Andy Roberts has known as for the speedy resignation of Cricket West Indies (CWI) President Dr. Kishore Shallow, Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe, and Head Coach Daren Sammy, blaming them for the game’s continued deterioration throughout the area.
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By no means one to tug punches, the Antiguan icon launched a scathing critique throughout a latest interview on a neighborhood radio program, slamming what he views as mismanagement, poor developmental constructions, and a harmful centralization of authority inside the crew’s management.
“The director of cricket ought to stroll, the president ought to stroll, the coach ought to stroll, at the start,” Roberts declared forcefully. “How can one individual have that a lot management over the fortunes of 5 million individuals? If they’ll’t take duty, how can they [not] resign?”
Collapse in Jamaica triggers outrage
Roberts’ fury erupted simply days after the West Indies collapsed for a mere 27 runs within the second innings of the ultimate Take a look at in opposition to Australia in Kingston—the second-lowest whole in Take a look at cricket historical past.
The humiliating defeat has reignited widespread concern concerning the state of cricket within the Caribbean, prompting the CWI to convene an emergency disaster assembly, bringing in revered figures equivalent to Sir Viv Richards, Sir Clive Lloyd, and Brian Lara to evaluate the dire state of affairs.
However for Roberts, these gestures are usually not sufficient.
“I used to be shocked—three wickets within the first over? Unthinkable,” he stated. “However conferences received’t repair this. We want correct growth, ranging from youth cricket, with certified coaches. The issues run a lot deeper.”
An influence construction underneath fireplace
Central to Roberts’ issues is the diploma of affect wielded by Daren Sammy, who presently serves as each head coach and selector. The twin function, in keeping with Roberts, has granted Sammy unchecked authority with little accountability—one thing he views as antithetical to a wholesome cricketing tradition.
His demand for accountability goes past technical errors on the sector; it strikes on the coronary heart of CWI’s governance.
Divisive feedback spark demand for apology
Including additional gas to the fireplace, Roberts took sharp purpose at CWI President Shallow over feedback that prompt criticism of Sammy could stem from ethnic bias in opposition to his St. Lucian heritage. Roberts, clearly incensed, warned in opposition to injecting division right into a sport that after united the area.
“He should apologise,” Roberts insisted. “Barbadians criticised Viv and Richie as captains, however nobody claimed it was as a result of they had been Antiguans. Shallow’s phrases gas division.”
A crossroads for West Indies cricket
Roberts’ name for sweeping resignations comes at a pivotal second for West Indies cricket—a crew lengthy famend for its legacy of greatness, now teetering on the sting of irrelevance within the world area. His feedback replicate not simply private disappointment however the deepening frustration of a area determined for revival.
Because the CWI scrambles for options, Sir Andy Roberts has issued a blunt ultimatum: personal the failure, or step apart.
