Former West Indies paceman Sir Andy Roberts has criticized Cricket West Indies, the governing body for the game in the country, for scheduling too many matches in Trinidad.
Trinidad and Tobago is a twin island in the southern Caribbean and includes 42 percent of the Indian diaspora – 1.3 people – according to a report by the High Commission of India Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
The recently concluded three-match ODI series was held at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad’s capital, Port of Spain. India whitewashed the hosts 3-0 after defeating them by 119 runs in the ODI final through the Duckworth Lewis (DLS) method. The first of the five T20Is between West Indies and India will begin at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad.
India play Trinidad or Guyana whenever they come: Sir Andy Roberts
Roberts, who played 47 Tests and 56 ODIs for the West Indies, explained how their board has kept Trinidad as the main venue whenever India visit the island nation.
The 71-year-old also mentioned Guyana as the second region with a sufficient presence of the Indian diaspora. However, with no white-ball match scheduled in Guyana for this series, Roberts said that plan has to change.
“That’s how it was. When we were playing, if we had five Test matches against India, two would be in Trinidad. This was because more people would come to see those games. Those were the non-television days and more ground crowds meant more revenue. It’s not like that anymore, the revenue comes from television, but still the board plays more India games in Trinidad or Guyana,” Roberts told Cricbuzz.
“We are looking at the Indian population in both Trinidad and Guyana. What other reason do we have to play every tour India does in Trinidad or Guyana? Whenever India come, they play Trinidad or Guyana, invariably; ditto for Bangladesh (team). We believe Indians will watch Indians. Let a team from Africa come here, do you think the Indians will look at the Africans,” he added.
Sir Andy Roberts is right in his opinion: CWI
Responding to the former pacer’s criticism of scheduling key matches in Trinidad and Guyana, Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Ricky Skerritt said the legendary footballer is entitled to his opinion.
“Sir Andy Roberts is entitled to his opinion, of any kind, on anything to do with West Indies cricket,” Skerritt told Cricbuzz.
The second and third T20I matches will be played at Warner Park in St Kitts with two teams traveling to Florida in the United States of America (USA) for the final two T20I matches.
Read also: IND vs WI: Axar Patel needed a little boost with the bat coming into the second ODI against West Indies- Sanjay Manjrekar
