Ganga optimistic West Indies cricket will reign supreme again

Former Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies captain Daren Ganga is holding on to hope that West Indies cricket would one day regain world supremacy and sees it as “ inevitable”.

Ganga, who was the keynote speaker at the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association Inc (SVGCA) awards ceremony and gala dinner, staged at the Media Centre of the Arnos Vale Playing Field, recently made this bold prediction.{{more}}

Addressing the theme, “Cricket – More than a Recreational Sport”, Ganga stated with confidence, “We can once more impact on the world and make millions and billions once more make us as heroes…masters of the game.”

He, however, said that this vision he shares in the interim is being obscured by the many confrontational factors.

Highlighting the current state of West Indies cricket, which is riddled with issues, Ganga lamented, “Cricket seems to be secondary to politics, the infighting ….There are so many negatives… They are all generating too much heat, when all we need is light.”

Taking a dig at the regional administrators of the sport, Ganga, whilst admitting that they have a role to play in the renaissance, noted, “We need to straighten them out about their role and value to the game.”

Ganga reasoned that you cannot have “The same persons … doing the same things the same way …there will be no change in our performance or our function.”

Ganga made reference to noted Trinidadian author, the late CLR James, in his book, Beyond the Boundary, in which James questioned cricket administrators, saying, “What do they know of Cricket who only Cricket know?”

On the other hand, Ganga put a premium on the players, proffering that they should be “first among equals, not a disposable asset.”

Ganga strongly agreed that the present set up of West Indies cricket needs fixing.

“… We are not integrating by design nor planning into an international system that is organized, futuristic, visionary or even adequate,” the keynote speaker said.

In laying out the road map to reverse the state of West Indies cricket, Ganga informed that no one entity can be left out and all stakeholders in the sport must play their part, stating: “I believe if you are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem.”

In piecing the parts together, Ganga is of the view that there is a high percentage of West Indian people who love cricket and regional governments, likewise, continue to provide the necessary infrastructure to aid in the development of the game.

Reiterating the historical significance of cricket to West Indian culture, Ganga reminded those present; “In cricket, we have made the biggest dent on the status quo,” and projected, “I have hope that we will once more be back on the global pedestal as the masters of the cricket universe.”

In getting to the point of ecstasy and euphoria of the 1,980s to the mid 2,000s, Ganga proposed, “It will take planning, it will take vision, it will take partnership…It will need mutual respect from one another, but for democracy and the natural laws of justice equality… I believe in planning… I believe in organization… I believe in statistics… I believe on a future based on best practices, tried and proven approaches.”

Ganga played 48 test matches for the West Indies over a 10-year period, scoring 2,160 runs, with three centuries to his name and nine 50’s. He finished with an average 25.71.

Additionally, Ganga appeared in 35 ODIs and a solitary T/20I. These go along with 172 first class matches.(RT)