Ravichandran Ashwin was surprised to see Nicholas Pooran and Sunil Narine missing from the West Indies squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Pooran retired from International Cricket last year, while Narine stepped away in 2023.
Although they haven’t played for the West Indies since their retirements, both continue to participate in franchise leagues internationally. Ashwin believes that Cricket West Indies (CWI) should have discussed the situation with Pooran and Narine before the T20 World Cup and persuaded them to join the tournament.
“I am very disappointed that West Indies cricket has not been able to bring Nicholas Pooran and Sunil Narine to this World Cup. You have world-class T20 cricketers. You need to talk to them and find a way to include them. How can you enter a World Cup without Nicholas Pooran and Sunil Narine?” Ashwin mentioned on his YouTube channel.
“I admire West Indies cricket. They have significant talent, but their planning and practice methods, along with the infrastructure, often leave me concerned. With better resources, how can you practice and compete globally? West Indies cricket has great potential but should reconsider its approach and planning for World Cups,” he added.
They are not serious contenders: Ashwin
Ashwin indicated that the West Indies are not serious contenders for the title, but he views them as a dark horse for the T20 World Cup. He mentioned that reaching the semi-finals may be difficult for them.
“They are not serious contenders. I consider them a dark horse due to their power hitters who can change the game. If their bowlers, like Akeal Hosein or Motie, perform well, they could be a threat. But I don’t believe they can make it to the top four. Only time will tell,” he said.
The West Indies share the record for the most T20 World Cup titles, with two championships, the same as England and India.
Led by Shai Hope, the team is in Group C with Scotland, England, Nepal, and Italy. The West Indies lost their only warm-up match against Afghanistan by 23 runs on February 4. They will start their World Cup campaign on February 7 in match No. 2 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
