Last month, West Indies 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 hosted India in all three formats of the game. While the Caribbean side lost the Test and ODI series, the Men in Maroon fought back to win the five-match T20I series 3-2.

The T20I series went to the final game and the hosts pulled off a comprehensive eight-wicket victory in the decider in Florida on Sunday (August 13).

Following the result, former West Indies pacer-turned-commentator Ian Bishop delivered an emotional statement on the win and what it meant in the current context for Cricket West Indies.  

“I saw some tweets on social media about the state of West Indies Cricket from my friends and colleagues. I would want to remind them that when your friend is hurt, you don’t say get rid of them. You try to find out how to help them. Leave it,” Bishop said on live broadcast.

Taking to social media platform X, Bishop also posted zipper-mouth face emojis, perhaps suggesting that he was left speechless by the result of the T20I series.

Coming to the fifth T20I, India posted 165/9 in their allotted 20 overs after opting to bat first. Suryakumar Yadav top scored with 61 off 45 balls and no other batter managed to touch the 30-run mark.

In reply, West Indies rode on opener Brandon King’s unbeaten 85 off 55 balls and wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran’s 35-ball 47 to overhaul the target with two overs to spare.