Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd & other legends step in as CWI holds crisis talks to save team’s future
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The Cricket West Indies (CWI) President, Kishore Shallow, has called for an emergency summit in Trinidad, which would include several greats of the game, like Sir Vivian Richards, as they look to address the growing challenges and implement structural reforms.
The West Indies have suffered miserably in recent times, as they have been severely inconsistent in recent ICC tournaments and now bilaterals as well. West Indies' performance in Test cricket has seen a major decline, but their white-ball performances have also not been convincing in recent bilateral series.
The CWI has hence requested an emergency meeting of the Cricket Strategy & Officiating Committee that began in Trinidad to address the challenges faced by the West Indies in cricket and implement immediate structural reforms.
CWI calls for an emergency meeting in Trinidad to implement immediate Structural reforms
It will be a two-day summit, to be held at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, which has brought together the committee's members, which also includes former West Indies greats like Desmond Haynes, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Ian Bradshaw.
Legends of West Indies cricket, Sir Vivian Richards and Sir Clive Lloyd, have been called in as special invitees, while senior men's players and coaching staff headed by former West Indies captain and now coach Daren Sammy would also be taking part in the meeting.
“This summit represents a critical turning point for West Indies cricket. We hope to engage in frank, honest and solutions-oriented discussions with coaches, former and current players, and administrators,” he said.
“This is not about quick fixes but identifying the structural reforms necessary… and strategic short- and long-term initiatives required to drive the necessary change,” said the CWI director while underlining the importance of the gathering.
"Not a reaction but a necessary intervention" - CWI CEO stresses the urgency of the move
The two-day summit has been cited as crucial by the CWI CEO as well, as he said, "This emergency strategic meeting is not simply a reaction but a necessary intervention… We expect deep, transparent conversations… and what we hope to emerge is a serious, organization-wide commitment to change.”
“As administrators, we are determined to support these reforms with the necessary resources, infrastructure and leadership. West Indies cricket deserves no less,” he said, as quoted by ANI.
CWI has agreed that the implementation of the outcomes from the summit will begin immediately, with progress updates provided since changes will be marked across all levels of West Indies Cricket.
Day one is focused on “High Performance Strategy and Structural Reform,” with panel discussions on team performance challenges and immediate improvement strategies.
Day two will shift to “Player-Centred High-Performance Solutions,” allowing current players and staff to speak candidly about gaps and ambitions. West Indies coach Daren Sammy will lead a session addressing the team’s brand of cricket and short-term difficulties.
The last review meeting was after the Australia vs West Indies Test series
Earlier last month, after the conclusion of the Third Test between Australia and the West Indies, the board's director, Kishore Shallow, wrote a heartfelt letter after the West Indies were bowled out for just 26 runs, which led them to lose the game by a humiliating margin of 3-0 on home soil.
Even then, the President had called for an emergency meeting while bringing in legends like Sir Vivian Richards, Brian Lara, Clive Lloyd, and others to join the committee's discussions and provide their valuable inputs.
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Cricket West Indies (CWI) West Indies National Cricket Team Sir Vivian Richards Clive Lloyd Desmond Haynes Shivnarine Chanderpaul Daren Sammy
