Would West Indies presence at WC 2019 be relevant?

asks Delvon McEwan

West Indies Cricket is known for its flair, flamboyance, aggression and exhilaration; and there are other descriptive terms that are equally applicable to this brand of cricket that has invariably mesmerised viewers — whether in a stadium, bar, home or elsewhere – with its seemingly mercurial temperament.

Players from the Caribbean have for decades managed to fan the flames of hope in the hearts of their loyal fans with incredible displays of excellence, much to the disappointment of cricket crazy fans in other parts of the world, who were left with no option other than to admire the never-say-die attitude of Caribbean players; and this had resulted in West Indies’ dominance of the Gentleman’s game, starting in the mid-1970s.
However, as the game evolved, West Indies Cricket has suffered a rapid decline, one that is not realistically being accepted by the regional fans because of the strength the players from the small territories previously possessed.
It has recently been difficult to acknowledge that, for the first time since the ICC Champions Trophy was introduced in 1998, the squad of maroon-clad players was absent from the tournament. This was due to their failure to be placed in the top eight of the ICC ranking at the tournament’s cutoff date for qualification.
This rapid West Indies’ fall from grace in the cricketing world has become a matter for passionate discussion wherever and whenever the maroon squad’s fans meet; and it could arguably be said that this team, once a powerhouse in all forms of the game, has so deteriorated that it is now a feeble minnow searching for survival on a professional platform. They seemingly just do not belong in the top tier in the international arena anymore, because they are fading as quickly as the sun would set.
Maybe that is too harsh an assessment of the once superhuman unit, but it appears to have suffered, for close to two decades, by the administration of a strange kryptonite that has rendered it less than a mere shadow of its once mighty self; and there seems to be nothing visible that would remotely suggest an imminent re-assertion of its dominance. Instead, there seems to be a harbinger of darker days ahead, judging from the team’s performance of late — many losses, compared to a few rare wins.
Nevertheless, there were many concerns raised in relation to this team’s absence from the Champions Trophy, and there are more alarms surrounding their automatic qualification to the World Cup in 2019, which at this stage is inconceivable. Making matters worse, it is expected to be a tough journey for the Caribbean side if they are to get past the qualifiers in Ireland, because of the contrasting conditions there, compared to what is on offer in the tropics.
Notwithstanding all these concerns about the West Indies’ possible qualification for the World Cup, if only because of their once powerful status, I would like to know if their presence would be necessary on a stage of such magnitude. And from all the positives I could think of, all the West Indies would be doing at the World Cup is participating. I do not think they would make any impact as a fierce competing team, nor would they be generating any revenues.
The West Indies Cricket Team is limited in every department. The players’ batting and bowling skills are poor; their fielding is comparable to their batting and bowling; and their leadership is questionable. Although Jason Holder possesses the potential to be a good player, his leadership at this point in his career cannot even be compared to that of Steven Jacobs at the youth level. Jacobs, as a 17-year-old, was clever and strong; and as a youth leader, he was able to inflict misery on the opposition in any situation.
Apart from the poor qualities mentioned about the West Indies players, they just would not make any significant contribution to the tournament’s revenue. Think about it. In the ongoing home series against the touring Indians, there are at most scores of spectators, and sometimes hundreds in stadiums that were built to accommodate thousands. Then it is obvious what would happen in foreign territories. Because of their rapid decline, caused by varying factors, no one wants to see West Indies play, whether they are watching from the seats of a stadium or from the comfort of their homes or elsewhere.
Therefore, although there are many concerns about West Indies qualifying for the World Cup, more than at any previous time in their history, I do not believe their presence there would be necessary, judging from their performance in recent times.