Sunil Gavaskar slams West Indies cricket team ahead of 2nd Test against India

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar slammed the West Indies cricket team ahead of the second Test against India in the ongoing two-match series. It has been a horrible couple of months for the Caribbean side as they failed to qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India and then ended up losing in a one-sided Test match against the Men in Blue in Dominica.

Gavaskar slammed the West Indies cricketers for prioritising franchise-based cricket over international cricket. The 74-year-old recalled his experience in the Caribbean and came up with a few suggestions to improve the situation. He also recognised the greatness of the side by mentioning names of legendary West Indies cricketers such as Clive Lloyds, Malcolm Marshalls, Viv Richards, Andy Roberts and Michael Holdings.

“It is where I went for my first tour and I know a lot of people there. I know the kind of legacy those wonderful cricketers left behind. There’s a pretty laid-back temperament which is fantastic but when it comes to playing sometimes a laid-back temperament might not get you much results. To Clive Lloyds, Malcolm Marshalls, Viv Richards, Andy Roberts, Michael Holdings, Garners, the wonderful era for West Indies Test cricket, every Test match that they played, was extra income,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying by NDTVSports.

You are paid for your performance: Gavaskar

Speaking further, Gavaskar suggested that the cricketers should get their salary on the basis of their performance. The former cricketer believes that the lack of a central contract could be a good way to handle the situation and the Test match fee should be increased.

“Today the West Indian players, whether it is Test player or T20 player, all the players all over the world are guaranteed by their central contracts, a hundred thousand dollars or whatever. But if you know the West Indian temperament and you have that much in the bank before you score a run or take a wicket, I am not too sure about a lot of them if it actually matters whether they score runs or not. Because the money is in the bank,” Gavaskar said.

“My suggestion would be to increase the Test match fees but don’t give them central contracts. You are paid for your performance. Then probably they will have a different attitude,” he further added.