Some West Indies players feel their fans have given up on them

At the moment the West Indies are ranked Number 8 out of the top 10 cricketing nations.

Addressing Caribbean media workers gathered in Port of Spain, the WICB's Chief Executive Officer Donald Peters urged that they and everyone else in the region get involved in the process to take West Indies cricket back to the top of the game.

Dr Peters said the Board had begun in his words, a process of giving some love to the Windies team.

He also disclosed that the WICB was actively seeking funds to establish a cricket academy with branches across the Caribbean to provide ongoing training to the region's cricketers and budding talent.

Disconnect

Donald Peters said there was essentially ‘a disconnect’ between the players’ present culture and values, and that of a nostalgic cricketing public.

He said the team was made up of players who are young, and athletes who are small in comparison to Australian and South African cricketers.

And he said the players while proud of the rich legacy of West Indies cricket, believe the legends who they admire and whose big shoes they are trying to fill have no confidence in them, or have no time for them.

Thery also feel that the public has essentially given up on them, and that the Board doesn't respect them or are not proud of them.

The new chief executive is calling for some understanding and love for the team, from Caribbean fans who have come to accept defeat as the norm today as far as the Windies are concerned.