West Indies playing without Hope

As the West Indies embark on their quest to be crowned the 2026 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T/20 World Cup champions only the most faithful of supporters would expect anything to be celebrated from the regional side in the February 7 to March 8, extravaganza.

Set to be hosted in India and Sri Lanka, the West Indies does not carry any weight of expectations, given the inconsistencies and poor results, since the 2024 edition, staged here in the Caribbean and in the USA.

In fact, West Indies has the second lowest win/loss ratio- that of -0.52, winning only 14 of their last 43 matches.

To add to the despair was the West Indies’ most recent form. They were beaten by South Africa, 2-1; Afghanistan, also 2-1; and New Zealand, 3-1.

If that was not enough, their official warm-up fixture played last Wednesday, February 4, 2026 also resulted in defeat to Afghanistan.

That type of performance does not inspire any hope of them upsetting the apple cart.

Before, the region even perceives lifting the title, the men in Maroon have to first emerge from their Group.

Lodged in Group C, alongside Scotland, England, Italy and Nepal, the West Indies, despite their multiple shortcomings, should make it to the next phase, the Super Eights.

West Indies open their campaign on February, 7, versus Scotland, before taking on powerhouse England on February 11, 2026.

Their next meeting is February 15 against Nepal, and on February 19, they opposes Italy.

Provided that the West Indies keep their heads and get past the likes of Scotland, Nepal, and Italy, comes the naked truth, as they will have to embark on the ‘Mount Everest’ challenge. When stacked against quality opposition, they have been left wanting as West Indies lacks the depth to challenge the more accomplished countries such as Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and Afghanistan which have outdone them in terms of current pedigree and form.

Simply put, the West Indies does not have to obtain any ratings as contenders to repeat their feats of 2012 and 2016.

To amplify the West Indies’ position, they have not advanced to the knock- out phase since trumping in 2016.

This as West Indies’ aura and once invincibility have faded in modern history.

The region cannot depend on what took place a decade ago and hold on to such memories. As the West Indies preach legacy, other nations have near perfected the art of T/20 Cricket, applied a scientific approach, and have the right personnel to get the job done, and more so, have opposition looking at them as serious threats.

On the other hand, the West Indies’ reliance on big hitting batters is not always an assurance that provides comfort as often times, their approach is one of hit and miss.

Then the sub-continent conditions must also be factored in, as the West Indies’ one- dimensional batters have struggled in that part of the world.

They often puke when fed with an overdose diet of spin and slow bowling. But most worrying should the West Indies genuinely want to make a fist of it, they are usually stopped in their tracks and ambitions by their bowling. The reality is that whilst the batters are capable of tearing into their opponents’ bowling attacks, those charged to apply pressure and take wickets, are woefully wanting.

With no penetrative bowlers in their armoury, the West Indies has to rely on the bits and pieces produced by individuals, who on any given day can go for plenty.

Again, T/20 Cricket has advanced beyond the grasp of West Indies, as the once lottery notion of that format of the sport no longer holds, placing West Indies further away from having even a miniscule chance of being crowned champions!

This exposition is not one of casting doom, it is simply stating the facts.

Yet as a region, we should still ‘Rally Round D West Indies, now and forever’ come what may.