West Indies aiming to close out ‘successful’ tour with series win, says Sammy

BENGALURU, India – The West Indies will be hoping for a winning end to their white-ball tour of India when the two teams clash in the fifth and deciding T20I, today.

However, West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has maintained that regardless of the result, he considers the tour a “success” with the regional team having showed they can compete with the world’s best teams.

After losing the ODI series 2-1, the Shai Hope-led unit will be beaming with confidence after another superb performance in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad on Wednesday saw them register a 24-run victory to tie the series at 2-2.

While Sammy admitted that it would be the icing on the cake to close out the series with a win, he said the West Indies had made tremendous strides that could not be ignored.

“For us what success means may be different to the viewers, but with us as a group I think this is the first time we’ve won more than two games on an Indian tour in 20 years, so for us success is progress.

“In spite of all the challenges that we faced, that we could come here and compete against the best team in the world, the defending champions. We tick boxes that keep us in the conversation,” Sammy said.

“Before this series started we all know about the pay cuts and everything that happened. And [with the] West Indies doing well, we continue to be a team that brings entertainment to the world when we are doing well, and it’s not because of, it’s in spite of all the challenges that we face.

“So my rule – and by extension management – with the players is to go out there and do our best. Sometimes it’s hard, it’s inconsistent, but I think the leadup after the World Cup, the leadup up to the Qualifiers that we’re going into, what I’ve seen and this series here will give the guys a lot of confidence, because I did say it was a way to measure where we’re at and I think the way we’ve played will send a strong message.

“If we can be consistent and if the players that we have go out there and give their all, when they do that they can compete and win games against anyone in the world,” he added.

Despite their impressive performances thus far, Sammy said the team was fully focused on what would be a historic series win.

He said such an achievement would be a major boost for the entire Caribbean community.

“…The fact that we’ve made the cricket really competitive is good for viewership. People in the Caribbean, once West Indies is doing well it lightens the mood of every single person.

“It’s been box office TV and hopefully tomorrow gives us that opportunity to bring the curtains down on an excellent tour of India and an excellent series,” Sammy said. (CMC)