NEW DELHI: The financial issues of the West Indies cricket board have been well documented in the past. All-rounder Jason Holder would acknowledge that it is the series against England and India where the majority of the revenue boost comes from which helps Windies sustain in the international cricketing landscape.
“We rely heavily on series between England and India, our revenues tend to come from those two teams. It’s our biggest series within any calendar year, and, yeah, it’s one that really brings the fans down to the Caribbean and creates a really fun atmosphere,” Holder said speaking to ESPNcricinfo.
“We’ve obviously had the English coming over for the last three years consecutively. And that has definitely boosted, not only our economy within the Caribbean, but it adds a massive boost to our survival in international cricket,” he added.
England will tour West Indies for the three-match ODI series and five-match T20I series starting on Thursday. “So, it’s great to have them and to see the fans packing the stadiums as well. There’s always a good banter between the West Indian public and English public. So we’re thankful that we’ve been able to have them so many times in as many years. And long may it continue.”
Are we acting as a community?
Former West Indies CEO questions if all the cricketing bodies are working as a community. “If you want a strong West Indies Cricket, it would not be that hard to do a bit more. ICC is giving us more money in headlines but our percentage of revenue has gone down from 7 per to 5 percent, which we struggle to understand,” he said. “If we all just are looking after ourselves then are we acting as a community? Are we putting the best product on the field?”
“I think everyone is a bit sick of the phrase – world cricket needs a strong West Indies – when we feel that world cricket is doing everything they can at almost every level to make sure that West Indies Cricket is never strong again,” Grave added.
Agencies