ICC T20 World Cup 2022: "Love Doesn't Buy You Groceries From Supermarket”- Darren Sammy On Pay Disparity

The T20 World Cup champions for West Indies in 2012 and 2016, Darren Sammy, has claimed that playing a sport you love won’t pay for your groceries. Sammy made his remarks in relation to the compensation difference amongst cricket boards worldwide. 

Sammy added, “Loving the game doesn’t get you goods from the grocery,” in reference to the salary disparity between players from other countries. 

Gone Are Those Days When You Played For Love: Darren Sammy

“Gone are those days when you played for love. Love doesn’t buy you groceries from supermarket,” said Sammy. 

He continued by saying that Team India is stronger because its players make far more money than those from the West Indies. 

“India is strong because they can tell their players that you don’t play anywhere else. You have to understand that they have the money to back it up,” added Sammy. 

Difficult For Smaller Nations To Keep Their Players: Darren Sammy

Sammy claimed that a West Indies player would only make a small portion of the salary paid out on an Indian A list deal, which pays out a million dollars annually. 

“An India A list contracted player could probably make a million dollar a year (Rs 7 crore plus match fees plus TV rights money) compared to a Windies A lister, who would earn USD 150,000 (Rs 1.2 crore roughly),” said Sammy. 

The 38-year-old claimed that it is extremely challenging for smaller boards to retain its players when they are receiving excellent compensation for participating in private competitions. 

“That’s a massive difference and obviously the question of pay (disparity) will always come up. It’s very difficult for smaller boards (in terms of financial might) to keep their players together when they are handsomely paid elsewhere,” Sammy added. 

Darren Sammy Impressed By Schedule Management Of New Zealand Cricket

The New Zealand Cricket Board was also praised by Sammy for the way they manage their players’ schedules. 

“I think NZC does it quite well (no international cricket scheduled during IPL). If NZC can do it, it comes down to communication. It’s upto the players and the boards to get a working system,” said Sammy. 

Due to losses to Scotland and Ireland, West Indies was eliminated from the T20 World Cup before it even reached the Super-12 round. 

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