Clive Lloyd worried West Indies will be stuck in 2nd tier of WTC for ‘100 years': ‘We have to stand up'
The West Indies, far from being the world-beaters they were under Lloyd and later under Viv Richards and Richie Richardson, have finished eighth out of nine teams in each of the three editions thus far. 'We have to look at what's happening at the ICC with the shareout of the money. India, Australia and England get 180 million and West Indies will get 80 million like Bangladesh and Afghanistan, and we are just two years out of being in that group for 100 years,' Lloyd said, according to ESPNCricinfo.
The West Indies lost just two Test series for about two decades between 1974 and 1994, a period in which they fielded teams that are widely regarded among the greatest ever seen in the sport. Since 1995, however, they have been in steady decline particularly in the longest format of the game. They were whitewashed 3-0 at home by Australia in their most recent Test series. It ended in humiliation for them as the West Indies were all out for just 27 runs in the last innings of the series.
Lloyd, however, pointed out that the West Indies were the biggest draw in the world at their peak and this needs to be brought into consideration. 'To me, it's not right. We have to stand up. We have to go to the ICC and ask for special dispensation. Because when we were in the ascendancy, and we were playing so well, everyone wanted to play with us.
'We were playing Australia very often, with England very often, and when we went to Pakistan or India, getting millions of people [to the grounds]. We need to get a better share of the pie, because we were the cash cows for a long time. And we need to get some of that. I am hoping the board follows up on that recommendation where we can be adequately given the money that is needed,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Cricket's Rs 1,400 crore question: Should India even play Pakistan in the Asia Cup?
India could meet Pakistan thrice in the Asia Cup that will be played in September in the UAE. The debate over whether India should face Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup has divided opinion across the country, reflecting ongoing discussions about one of cricket's most storied rivalries. Proponents argue that an India–Pakistan clash should proceed, asserting that the intense rivalry significantly boosts revenues, adding substantially to the coffers like no other cricket match-up. They contend that India, often regarded as the subcontinent's 'big brother', has a role in financially sustaining other cricket-playing nations. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Conversely, opponents maintain that engaging in cricket matches with a nation they were at war with merely months earlier is untenable. They argue that there is no compelling reason to schedule cricket fixtures while broader bilateral tensions between the two neighbours remain unresolved. Amidst this heated debate, a common understanding among fans persists that the India–Pakistan rivalry remains cricket's most heated and eagerly anticipated encounter. However, this perception warrants re-examination. Is the rivalry still as fierce? India and Pakistan last contested a Test match 18 years ago. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Paras Sector 59 Gurgaon | Luxury Awaits at Paras Floret Paras The Florett Book Now Undo Over the past 15 years, they have played 16 One Day Internationals (ODIs), with India securing twelve victories, and thirteen T20 matches, of which India has won ten. A snapshot of Pakistan's win-loss record since the 2022 T20 World Cup. The International Cricket Council (ICC) marketed the India–Pakistan match as the premier clash at the T20 World Cup in the United States last year. In the tournament, Pakistan not only lost to India but also to the hosts and the minor team USA in the first round. On Tuesday, the West Indies achieved a comprehensive victory over Pakistan in the third ODI in Tarouba, bowling them out for a mere 92 runs, underscoring the team's ongoing struggles. Apart from home and away wins against Bangladesh earlier this year, the national team's ODI performances have been lacklustre over the past two years. These statistics resurface regularly. Considering that India and Pakistan could potentially meet three times in the Asia Cup – during the league stage, the Super Four, and potentially the final – one wonders if it will live up to its anticipated status. From an economic perspective, the India–England and India–Australia fixtures have seen exponential growth in recent years. For instance, the recent Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, a five-Test series, recorded the highest-ever viewership numbers for digital broadcasts . Furthermore, the 2017 Border–Gavaskar series in India, followed by the 2024 leg in Australia, have become the highest-grossing bilateral cricket events to date. India will meet Pakistan on September 14 in the group stage of the Asia Cup 2025. For the India–Pakistan rivalry to achieve similar financial success, the quality of cricket between the two nations would need a significant improvement. The primary benefits of India participating in the Asia Cup are twofold: firstly, assured financial gains for cricket boards across the subcontinent through media rights revenue; secondly, fostering goodwill ahead of discussions when India hosts the 2026 T20 World Cup. With media rights revenues valued at approximately Rs 1,400 crore for three tournaments (plus approximately Rs 290 crore from ground rights), each cricket board is guaranteed a minimum of Rs 290 to 332 crore over six years – an outcome unattainable without India's involvement. In the context of the T20 World Cup, media rights revenues are several times higher than those of the Asia Cup. Ultimately, it is the financial stakes of the India–Pakistan match that remain high, while on-field competitiveness has diminished to a mere myth. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
India.com
3 hours ago
- India.com
'Everyone doesn't need to play Test cricket...': ICC urged not to force Test cricket on all Nations, due to...
In order to preserve the game's oldest format, Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg has issued a serious warning regarding the financial viability of Test cricket and urged administrators to take into account a leaner, more focused schedule. Speaking about the future of red-ball cricket, Greenberg emphasized that smaller cricketing nations that are already having financial difficulties could face financial ruin if the calendar is overloaded. 'Scarcity in Test cricket is our friend, not our foe,' Greenberg said, as quoted by BBC. Greenberg reflected on the financial issues that countries may face 'I don't think everyone in world cricket needs to aspire to play Test cricket, and that might be OK. We're literally trying to send countries bankrupt if we force them to try to play Test cricket.' His remarks coincide with the International Cricket Council's (ICC) investigation of structural changes, such as a potential two-tier Test system, to make matches more competitive and profitable. Greenberg said that in order to ensure their continued success, the sport's most recognizable competitions, like the Ashes and the series involving the big three, India, England, and Australia should be given more priority and funding. He cited the long-standing appeal and profitability of the 2025–26 Ashes series in Australia, which is just 100 days away, as an illustration of where resources ought to be focused. Greenberg called India vs England Test cricket at its best. Greenberg compared the recent England-India series to one-sided matches elsewhere, but he also acknowledged the series' high points, calling it Test cricket at its best. He claimed that New Zealand's innings-and-359-run thumping of Zimbabwe demonstrated the competitive and commercial divide that exists in the current Test scene, while Australia's victories in the recently finished West Indies series had the lowest margin at 133 runs. He argued that these mismatches don't do much to draw spectators or make money, particularly in areas where cricket finds it difficult to compete with other forms of entertainment. 'We need to make sure we invest in the right spaces to play Test cricket where it means something and has jeopardy,' he said. 'That's why the Ashes will be as enormous and profitable as it is, because it means something.'
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
Virat Kohli comparisons have affected Babar Azam's game across formats, says Pakistan's Ahmed Shehzad
Babar Azam's persistent lack of big scores continued during the ODI series against West Indies, which ended with a catastrophic 202-run defeat in Trinidad on Tuesday. Surrounded by three ducks in the top-order, Babar mustered only nine runs as Pakistan were eventually shot down for a paltry 92 in a 295-run chase. Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad has highlighted the consistent comparisons with India legend Virat Kohli as a primary reason behind Babar's extended century-drought. 'When everything was going well, you were running campaigns comparing players. Now that the performances are not coming, you are saying 'don't compare two players'. Why not? Virat Kohli's comparison cannot be made with anyone in the world. He is a legend of this generation, a role model. You cannot compare him even with MS Dhoni. Dhoni may have been a great captain, but as a batter, cricketer, and athlete, Kohli stands alone. No one should be compared with anyone because it's unfair and it adds extra pressure, which we are now seeing on Babar Azam,' Shehzad was quoted as saying by GeoSuper. Despite surpassing Kohli's T20I run tally last year as he moved up to 4223 runs, only behind former India captain Rohit Sharma, Babar was axed from the Pakistan squad in the shortest format. Since his century against Nepal in the Asia Cup 2023, Babar has gone 72 innings across all formats without reaching a hundred. During this period, he's scored 2,139 runs at an average of 31.45, with 18 half-centuries. His struggle for a century is particularly notable in Test cricket where he has gone three years without a three-figure score. Since his last Test hundred against New Zealand in December 2022, he has averaged just 23.60, scoring 590 runs in 25 innings. With scores of 47, 0 and 9 in the West Indies ODI series, the former Pakistan captain also slipped down from the top 2 of the ICC ODI batting rankings. India skipper Rohit displaced Babar to take second place in the latest rankings, with Shubman Gill leading the charts in the format.
