Sunil Gavaskar Gives West Indies Cricket Team Advice: “Don’t Give Them Central Contracts”

Sunil Gavaskar, a legendary batsman, expressed his opinions on the recent failure of the West Indies cricket team. West Indies have fallen short of expectations in recent years across all forms, and their most recent inability to make the ODI World Cup has raised questions about their performance. The

Gavaskar took a trip down memory lane as he reminisced about his playing days in the Caribbean and paid tribute to the players who had previously represented the West Indies, such as Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Andy Roberts, and others.

Since I went there on my first trip, I am well acquainted with the area. I am aware of the type of legacy that great cricketers have left. There is a relatively laid-back disposition, which is great, but sometimes a laid-back temperament won’t go you very far in games. “During the glorious era for West Indies Test cricket, every Test match that they played was extra money to Clive Lloyds, Malcolm Marshalls, Viv Richards, Andy Roberts, Michael Holdings, and Garners,” he stated on The Indian Express Idea Exchange.

Gavaskar, however, called attention to the personalities of the contemporary West Indies players and questioned their strategy, speculating that it may be because of their central contracts.

“Today, the West Indian players are guaranteed by their central contracts, a hundred thousand dollars or anything, whether they are playing in Test matches or Twenty20 matches. I’m not sure about many of them, however, whether it really matters whether they score runs or not, especially if you are familiar with the West Indian temperament and have that much in the bank before you score a run or take a wicket. Gavaskar said at the occasion that this is so since the money is in the bank.

The renowned cricketer also advised Cricket West Indies to consider an alternative to not offering the players a central contract.

“My recommendation is to raise the Test match entry costs, but refrain from awarding them central contracts. For your performance, you get compensated. Then they’ll probably adopt a new mentality,” he said.

Three days after failing to make any effort with bat or ball on their own land, West Indies lost the first Test match against India. As India blasted them to open the 2019 World Test Championship cycle on a high, the hosts were unprepared for the task. In Trinidad, the second and final Test of the series will begin on Thursday.