Published: Aug 08, 2016, 01:27 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 08, 2016, 01:27 PM (IST)
India and West Indies gear up for the third Test of the series which commences in St Lucia from Tuesday, August 9. The match is happening in the tiny island in the backdrop of a huge event in the context not exactly of this series, but which has got a lot to do with cricket in the region.
The match will be played at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, and though the man himself was never supposed to be a part of the game, having retired from the longest format, a new development with him at the centre of it has rocked the tiny island. Days ahead of this Test, Sammy, a two-time World T20 winning captain, was sacked from the post of West Indies’ T20I captain. ALSO READ: Darren Sammy – An inspiration to millions.
The incident has disturbed the cricket fans and Sammy fans in the region to the extent that they are no more interested in the game. Many locals are angry that their hero has been treated with ‘such disdain’ by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). “No Sammy, no cricket,” a Times of India report quoted as saying an upset fan. ALSO READ: Carlos Brathwaite likely to be appointed as West Indies T20 skipper.
Sammy, the first international cricketer from his country, a local hero and a source of inspiration to many, had himself criticised WICB’s attitude. “I am not really surprised because I know how these guys (WICB) operate; you know if you look at their history… when people speak the truth it’s always like that.It is because of what I said at the end of the World Cup (2016 World T20 in India) – that’s it,” the same report quoted him as saying. ALSO READ: Twitter goes berserk after Darren Sammy’s axing as West Indies’ T20I skipper.
The inspirational leader has revealed that he would now focus on the ‘Darren Sammy Foundation’, with which he hopes to help ‘young people in the Caribbean to develop into future champions and leaders.’ He even shared an invitational post through his official Instagram account in this regard.
Meanwhile, as they say, the show must go on. Cricket will resume in St Lucia from Tuesday as the two teams take on each other in the third Test. Sammy fans, who claim cricket has become a no-interest zone for them without him, might stay away from the stadium and continue to set the social media space abuzz with posts in his support.
