'They are failing to unite the Caribbean'

West Indies have no pride - Gibbs

Cricinfo staff

April 9, 2007

Uniting fans from different countries in the West Indies is an important role for the players, according to Lance Gibbs © Getty Images

Cricket in the Caribbean continues to be hurt by infighting over money and a lack of pride within the West Indies team, according to Lance Gibbs. The current line-up did not take their responsibilities seriously enough, Gibbs said.

"Where is the pride for representing the Caribbean?" Gibbs, who has travelled from his home in Miami to watch the World Cup, told AFP. "They must know about pride as, apart from cricket, we are separate nations. Cricket is a cohesive force and these players have a responsibility to unite the Caribbean, which they are failing to do."

West Indies face an uphill battle to reach the semi-finals and need not only to win all three of their remaining matches but also rely on other results falling their way. Gibbs said a strong West Indies unit was important and the players needed to understand that cricket should come before money.

"West Indies are always a proud team, so a strong West Indies team is what world cricket needs, just like when the West Indies under Clive Lloyd ruled the world and became an inspiration for other teams," he said. "If you perform you will be well rewarded - money as well as in terms of progress - and when successful cricketers walk in the streets they are recognised which even presidents and prime ministers of countries sometimes aren't."

Gibbs said nearly a decade later, the 1998 tour to South Africa, when the West Indies players revolted over a pay dispute, remained a prime example of the troubles within the sport. "There are lots of problems afflicting Caribbean cricket, the foremost being the players' association bickering over money," Gibbs said.

"I'm not saying they should not be paid, it's not a matter of jealousy - it could be done in much better ways. You don't always wash your dirty linen in public.

"The tour to South Africa was a disaster when players stayed back in England and the West Indies Cricket Board president had to fly out and solve the problems. I would have gone there for nothing to see what Nelson Mandela had done there and learn lessons."

Gibbs also criticised World Cup organisers for using new grounds, which were as foreign to the hosts as to the visiting sides. "One of the reasons the West Indies are not doing well is that we have lost the home advantage with the new grounds and new pitches," he said. "Sri Lanka knew more than us about the pitch in Guyana. Antigua was new, Grenada will be new."

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