Downfall of West Indies should be a lesson for all : Mohammad Hafeez Former Pakistani Cricketer

West Indies failed to qualify for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 after losing their Super Six match against Scotland. It will be the first time that the 13th edition of the ICC World Cup 2023 competition will be without the team from the Caribbean.

The West Indies Cricket team hit the lowest point of their cricketing history on Saturday. They got knocked out of the ICC ODI world cup 2023. The two-time world champions faced three back-to-back defeats in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers against Zimbabwe, Netherlands and Scotland that sealed their destiny.

Former Pakistani Cricketer Mohammad Hafeez took to twitter after WI got knocked out of ODI World Cup 2023 and said that the fate of West Indies should serve as a lesson to everyone in World Cricket. 

Mohammad Hafeez wrote on twitter, “Downfall of West Indies Cricket should be a lesson for all. Nothing granted in the professional world. Infrastructural development & right management of the players are important ingredients to stay tall at the International level. Two time world champions are out of the Cricket World Cup 2023.”

The former cricketer pointed towards the constant fights that West Indies Cricketers have had with their board which at a point saw a mass exodus where players preferred to play in the franchise league rather than in the national team. 

The hero of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final 2016, Carlos Brathwaite was left stunned and said - The signs were there early in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 campaign but this is now “the lowest you can go.” Another WI former player Ian Bishop said - “It has been a dramatic fall from grace from the former two-time winners of the cricket world cup, two-time world (cup) T20 champions as well”.

Windies had to play the world cup qualifiers because they finished 9th in the ODI Super League, and only the top eight teams gained direct entry to the ten-team tournament.

West Indies needed a win against Scotland to keep their slim qualification hopes alive but were bowled out for 181. Once again WI produced a dismal show with the bat. Scotland’s Matthew Cross and Brandon McMullen knocks helped the team chase down the target with 6.3 overs to spare. It was Scotland’s first ever win over the Caribbean side in the ODIs.

Cover Credit - ICC