News that the West Indies have pulled out midway through a tour of India is not just disappointing for those fans who were hoping to enjoy the series; it could mark the end of a cricketing era. A pay dispute between the players and the West Indies Cricket Board has put a cloud over the viability of the game at a professional level in the Caribbean.
While details were unclear yesterday, it appears that the board is unable, or unwilling, to agree on terms for the players. There are also reports that the Board of Control for Cricket in India is preparing to sue its West Indies counterpart for $65 million (Dh239m) in damages.
Not so very long ago, it would have been unimaginable that there would be a time when the West Indies would not be able to field a team. In the 1970s and 1980s, they dominated cricket, and their infectious swashbuckling approach, especially in the limited-overs game, helped reenergise the sport. Stars such as Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Joel Garner, Michael Holding and Curtly Ambrose were renown across the cricketing world.
Brian Lara’s batting skills created a new generation of fans of West Indies cricket. But since then, the side’s reputation has slumped. We can only hope that whatever is wrong with West Indies cricket can be solved to ensure the sport retains its great global ambassadors.