Legendary former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd says the future of cricket in the region is looking rosy and all it needs is good corporate support.
Published: Nov 03, 2011, 04:03 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 03, 2011, 04:03 PM (IST)
Clive Llyod said the regional governing body was working to build the right structure to produce World-class players, but corporate support was needed © AFP
St. John’s (Antigua): Nov 3, 2011
Legendary former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd says the future of cricket in the region is looking rosy and all it needs is good corporate support.
Lloyd’s comments came following the West Indies’ 229-run victory in the second Test against Bangladesh on Wednesday, earning them a rare series victory overseas.
“I have seen the signs, I am seeing the ‘green shoots’ in players like Kirk Edwards and Andre Russell who have come on to the scene and done well. They have shown that they are quality players who can compete against any team around the World,” Lloyd said in an interview.
“I can safely say that we have about 15 to 20 players who can compete with the best in the World. What we need is for all hands to be on deck and for the senior players to be there to mentor and guide them in a positive way.”
Lloyd, a director of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), said he felt the regional governing body was working to build the right structure to produce World-class players, but corporate support was needed.
“Even though the WICB is not well endowed in the monetary sense like some of the other boards around the World, it has put the framework in place for our cricket to be strong again,” he said.
“It is extremely expensive to run our cricket. We’re separated by water, so travel is more expensive; we’re a tourist destination, so hotels are more expensive; and we have to ensure that player salaries are competitive, so now I would love to see companies coming forward and sponsoring our regional competitions.”
Lloyd led West Indies in 74 Tests, winning 36, and 87 One-day Internationals, winning 45, between 1974 and 1985.(IANS)
