Former West Indies captain Daren Sammy expressed his utter disappointment with the team’s dismal performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022, which saw them getting knocked out in the Qualifying rounds.
The early exit was met with strong criticism, particularly from Australian legend Ricky Ponting and their president Ricky Skerritt.
According to Sammy, the West Indies have hit an all-time nadir because they failed to develop young talent.
He added that since the management had been unable to select worthy successors for their former stars, the team was solely to blame for the crisis that had been long in the making.
“That’s contrasting feelings. Quite disappointing and sad, but we put ourselves in that situation,” Sammy told reporters in Perth on Sunday (October 30).
“Every establishment, any working environment that includes a team, when players are leaving you must pave the way and prepare the way for their exit.
“We had no plan in 2020. And 2021 came upon us and we still didn’t have a plan and we ended up bringing back guys who were obviously past their prime and again you have just been poor tactically,” he said.
The two-time World Champions (2012,2016) were knocked out in the first round of the tournament after shocking losses to Ireland and Scotland.
Coach Phil Simmons has announced his resignation following the Test series that will begin on November 30 in Australia as a result of the fiasco.
The former cricketer went on to add that the Nicholas Pooran-led team's future is only going to be uphill. Pooran must be allowed time to develop as a captain, he urged.
“Nick is still young and he has got so much time to learn. I know he is a passionate guy,” Sammy said of the 27-year-old Pooran, a left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman.
“I was a young captain too, but I had to learn on the job quite quickly. You know how I turned out to be a leader. You never write off anybody.” he added.
(Agence France-Presse Inputs)
