ST JOHN’S, Antigua — In an explosive rebuke of West Indies cricket’s top leadership, legendary fast bowler Sir Andy Roberts has called for the immediate resignation of Cricket West Indies (CWI) President Dr. Kishore Shallow, Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe, and Head Coach Daren Sammy, blaming them for the sport’s continued deterioration across the region.
Never one to pull punches, the Antiguan icon launched a scathing critique during a recent interview on a local radio program, slamming what he views as mismanagement, poor developmental structures, and a dangerous centralization of authority within the team’s leadership.
“The director of cricket should walk, the president should walk, the coach should walk, first and foremost,” Roberts declared forcefully. “How can one person have that much control over the fortunes of five million people? If they can’t take responsibility, how can they [not] resign?”
Collapse in Jamaica triggers outrage
Roberts’ fury erupted just days after the West Indies collapsed for a mere 27 runs in the second innings of the final Test against Australia in Kingston—the second-lowest total in Test cricket history.
The humiliating defeat has reignited widespread concern about the state of cricket in the Caribbean, prompting the CWI to convene an emergency crisis meeting, bringing in revered figures such as Sir Viv Richards, Sir Clive Lloyd, and Brian Lara to assess the dire situation.
But for Roberts, these gestures are not enough.
“I was shocked—three wickets in the first over? Unthinkable,” he said. “But meetings won’t fix this. We need proper development, starting from youth cricket, with qualified coaches. The problems run much deeper.”
A power structure under fire
Central to Roberts’ concerns is the degree of influence wielded by Daren Sammy, who currently serves as both head coach and selector. The dual role, according to Roberts, has granted Sammy unchecked authority with little accountability—something he views as antithetical to a healthy cricketing culture.
His demand for accountability goes beyond technical errors on the field; it strikes at the heart of CWI’s governance.
Divisive comments spark demand for apology
Adding further fuel to the fire, Roberts took sharp aim at CWI President Shallow over comments that suggested criticism of Sammy may stem from ethnic bias against his St. Lucian heritage. Roberts, clearly incensed, warned against injecting division into a sport that once united the region.
“He must apologise,” Roberts insisted. “Barbadians criticised Viv and Richie as captains, but no one claimed it was because they were Antiguans. Shallow’s words fuel division.”
A crossroads for West Indies cricket
Roberts’ call for sweeping resignations comes at a pivotal moment for West Indies cricket—a team long renowned for its legacy of greatness, now teetering on the edge of irrelevance in the global arena. His comments reflect not just personal disappointment but the deepening frustration of a region desperate for revival.
As the CWI scrambles for solutions, Sir Andy Roberts has issued a blunt ultimatum: own the failure, or step aside.
 President Dr. Kishore Shallow.){kind=link}