“Increase Test match fees but don’t give central contracts,” Gavaskar’s radical ideas to bring West Indies cricket back on track

West Indies recently failed to qualify for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.

Earlier this month, Caribbean cricket hit a new low as they were knocked out of the upcoming ODI World Cup qualification race after suffering back-to-back defeats against Zimbabwe, Netherlands and Scotland in the World Cup 2023 Qualifiers.

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, slated to be held in India from October 5 to November 19, will be the first edition to not feature the West Indies, who won the first two editions of the tournament in 1975 and 1979.

Soon after their dismal campaign in the World Cup Qualifiers, West Indies copped a crushing defeat by an innings and 141 runs in the first Test against India in Dominica.

Amid the debacles, Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has come up with some radical ideas to bring West Indies cricket back on track.

“It is where I went for my first tour and I know a lot of people there,” Gavaskar said at The Indian Express Idea Exchange. “I know the kind of legacy those wonderful cricketers left behind. There’s a pretty laid back temperament which is fantastic but when it comes to playing sometimes a laid back temperament might not get you much results. To Clive Lloyds, Malcolm Marshalls, Viv Richards, Andy Roberts, Michael Holdings, Garners, the wonderful era for West Indies Test cricket, every Test match that they played, was extra income.”

Gavaskar suggested Cricket West Indies (CWI) to increase the Test match fees but don’t give central contracts to players.

“Today the West Indian players, whether it is Test player or T20 player, all the players all over the world are guaranteed by their central contracts, a hundred thousand dollars or whatever. But if you know the West Indian temperament and you have that much in the bank before you score a run or take a wicket, I am not too sure about a lot of them if it actually matters whether they score runs or not. Because the money is in the bank,” Gavaskar stated.

“My suggestion would be to increase the Test match fees but don’t give them central contracts. You are paid for your performance. Then probably they will have a different attitude,” he further remarked.

Having lost the first Test, West Indies will next face India in the second Test at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain from July 20.

Following the two-match Test series, West Indies will host India in three ODIs and five T20Is.

(The Indian Express Inputs)