NEW DELHI: Batting legend Sir Vivian Richards has expressed disappointment over West Indies' absence from the Champions Trophy, urging them to learn from Afghanistan's progress in international cricket.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!West Indies and Sri Lanka, both previous ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy winners, failed to qualify for the ongoing eight-team tournament in Pakistan and Dubai.
"I'm just hoping that my West Indies team can take a leaf out of these guys' book, because there is a passion and energy that the Afghanis have brought to the game," Richards told the media.
"They haven't been in the cricket world for so long as maybe some other teams around the world, but just their fighting spirit. To me, the ability to learn as the years go by, that would have given them the experience that's needed in order for them to be where they're at," he stated during a virtual interaction.
"When you can see Afghanistan in the Champions League, and the West Indies not, it means that Afghanistan is doing something right," he observed.
Afghanistan has evolved into a formidable Asian cricket force through consistent performances, moving beyond their previous status as underdogs.
Richards emphasised that West Indies requires comprehensive improvement across all levels, including players and administration. The team's absence from both the Champions Trophy and the 2023 ODI World Cup in India highlights this need.
"In order for us to get ourselves back where we once were, it is going to take maybe not just the players, but individuals from the board, people who are in responsible positions," he explained.
ICC must answer the question on CT scheduling
Regarding the Champions Trophy scheduling, both Australia and South Africa travelled to the UAE, uncertain whether their semifinal would be in Dubai or Lahore, pending the India-New Zealand match outcome on Sunday.
Richards addressed the scheduling concerns, stating: "People may have a point when they say that. I guess that's due to politics - I don't want to get into the political side of things."
"But I believe the people who are responsible, in terms of the governing and the ruling of the game in itself, which is the ICC, they're the ones who I think got the problem."
"I would like them to come up with an answer, why? If they are the governing body of cricket, why is that happening at present? I honestly believe one of the things that can bring all of us together, fans and everyone, even enemies together, (is) sports," he said.
For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the
India vs England Test match here.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment