Underdogs Windies look to ignite passion
They may not be the hottest property at the World Cup, but the West
Indies on Thursday said they were desperate to win this time and restore
pride in the Caribbean.
On home turf four years ago, the former champions made it to the
Super Eights round before losing five out of six matches, prompting the
then skipper Brian Lara to announce his international retirement. “We
want to get the record straight this time,” attacking opener Chris Gayle
said ahead of their first warm-up match against Kenya on Saturday.
“There are a lot of expectations from people back home. We want to go
all out for them. This is my third World Cup. I’m treating it like my
final Cup.
“The West Indies have a legacy of winning and I want to give my best
to win matches for us,” said Gayle who is closing in on 8,000 ODI runs.
The West Indies won the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979 but have
since struggled to keep pace with the best in the game.
Since 2007, they have been dogged by in-fighting, selection rows and
wrangling between players and the board.
Gayle, 31, was stripped of his captaincy last year after he refused a
central contract and the inexperienced Darren Sammy was promoted to
lead. COLOMBO, AFP COLOMBO, AFP |