‘We sent a strong message’: Daren Sammy on West Indies’ rise ahead of Indian decider

West Indies Cricket Team (PTI Photo) Bengaluru: A decade ago, T20 cricket conjured up images of Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Evin Lewis. Few will forget how Marlon Samuels and Carlos Brathwaite lit up the Eden Gardens as West Indies stormed to the 2016 ICC World T20 title.The road has never been easy for Caribbean cricket. The lure of franchise leagues and their lucrative pay packages have complicated the task of keeping their best players available for international duty. The players cannot be blamed. Just before their tour of India began last month, Cricket West Indies announced a 25% cut in fees for international players and suspended this year’s men’s Super50 and women’s T20 Blaze tournaments due to financial constraints.In this context, their 1-2 defeat in the ODI series was far from disheartening. Since then, they have taken the five-match T20I series to a decider. Head coach Daren Sammy, captain of the team that won the World T20 in 2016, said it was “box-office TV stuff”.“For us, success can be different than for the audience,” said the former all-rounder. “For us, success is progress. Despite all the challenges we face, if we could come here and play the best team in the world – the defending champions – we tick the boxes to keep us in the conversation.”Sammy said the players refused to let setbacks define them. “Before the series started, we all knew the big cuts and everything that happened. We’re still doing well and we continue to be a team that brings entertainment to the world when we’re doing well. It’s not because of us, it’s despite all the challenges we’re facing. The way we played, we sent a strong message. If we could be consistent, all the players we have go into the locker room and compete. games against anyone on the world.”For Sammy, the value of West Indies goes beyond results. They believe their brand of cricket continues to attract audiences and lift spirits across the Caribbean. “The fact that we’re making cricket really competitive is good for viewership. When the West Indies do well, it lifts the spirits of everyone in the Caribbean,” he said.