Hyderabad: Trinidad & Tobago’s impressive performance in the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 would definitely help in putting West Indies cricket back on track, feels the island nation’s captain Darren Ganga.
West Indies cricket has been in severe crisis for the last few months after a bitter row arose between the players and administrators of the game over contracts.
The enormity of the feud can be ascertained from the fact that West Indies Cricket Board was forced to field in a depleted side in the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa last month.
“For both the West Indies and Trinidad, I think it (the performance in Champions League) will put our cricket back on the horizon.”
“I think there are things people don’t want to hear about our cricket. But it (the Champions League) showed that West Indies cricket has the talent, have players with ability to play at the highest level and play consistently well,” T&T skipper Ganga said after his side’s unbeaten run was stopped by New South Wales in the CLT20 final last night.
“It is going to ensure that we, not just Trinidad & Tobago but the entire West Indies, grow as a cricketing nation,” he added.
Ganga also feels that the tournament has created new opportunities for the Caribbean players and youngsters of the team have immensely benefited from the experience.
“It has given a lot of opportunities. I know lot of franchises are speaking to the players of our team. Lot of them have had the opportunity to play in India and it has been a big experience for them.”
“Before we came here, myself and Dwayne Bravo were probably the only two guys who played in India. But lot of young guys are going to take this experience to improve upon their game and careers,” he said.
Asked about his side’s fairytale run in the tournament, especially the unflinching support they got from the people of Hyderabad, Ganga, “We will cherish the experience, the memories of competing against top teams of the world, the memory of being recognised by the India’s public.”
“To me, that has been the most fulfilling thing. Lot of our young guys have not had the exposure of international cricket. This is pretty much very very close to international cricket.”
“This (CLT20) would develop them. This is an experience they would take as a stepping stone of their their careers,” the right-handed batsman added.
Bureau Report
