West Indies legend Clive Lloyd has made a passionate plea for the international powers to offer more assistance to West Indies cricket.
Lloyd, the captain of the all-conquering team of the 1970s and ’80s, is chairman of selectors and is with the team in Australia for the ongoing Frank Worrell trophy series.
Speaking on a wide range of topics, he argued that the game in the Caribbean was in need of resources to aid with development and progression, and called on the world governing body, the International Cricket Council, to act on its behalf.
“To run cricket you have to have quite a lot of money. We’re not as wealthy as the other countries. We did well in the ’70s and ’80s because we were coming as champions and if you’re coming as champions you can demand something,” the 71-year-old Lloyd told reporters here Friday.
Lloyd has been hailed as the architect of one of the greatest periods of sporting dominance when West Indies dominated world cricket.
That era stemmed from a defeat to Australia in 1975-76, after which the regional side ruled the cricket world for 20 years. During that period, they won the World Cup in 1975 and 1979 under Loyd’s captaincy.
Also a former team manager, Lloyd said the present side in Australia had the potential to become a match-winning outfit but needed to gain more experience in foreign conditions.
Lloyd was also quick to hail the work of newly appointed Test captain Jason Holder. He said the 24-year-old had shown great character in handling the pressure of the tour.
