In the aftermath of their 27 all-out against Australia, the second-lowest total in Test history, West Indies cricket’s legends have urged the ICC to rethink its financial model, warning that without greater support the team risks being permanently left behind.
Clive Lloyd: We have to ask ICC for special dispensation
Cricket West Indies’s two-day meeting in Trinidad to discuss the revival of the sport in the country brought together legendary figures like Brian Lara, Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Desmond Haynes, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, alongside current head coach Daren Sammy and CWI’s senior officials. Among the key points of discussion was to seek “special dispensation” from the ICC, or a bigger slice of the game’s revenue, which will be crucial to keep cricket afloat in the Caribbean.
According to the proposed ICC finance model for 2024-27, India get the largest percentage share of earnings, at 38.5 per cent. Australia and England receive 6.25 per cent and 6.89 per cent shares, respectively, while the West Indies get 4.58 per cent of the ICC's earnings, or approximately USD 27.50 million annually.
Lloyd, reflecting on the team’s dominance through the 1970s, 80s and into the 90s, argued that their contribution to the sport’s global appeal merited special consideration. “India, Australia and England get 180 million, and the West Indies will get 80 million like Bangladesh and Afghanistan,” he said. “To me, it's not right. We have to stand up. We have to go to the ICC and ask for special dispensation. Because when we were in the ascendancy, and we were playing so well, everyone wanted to play with us.
“We were playing Australia very often, with England very often, and when we went to Pakistan or India, getting millions of people [to the grounds]. We need to get a better share of the pie, because we were the cash cows for a long time. And we need to get some of that. I am hoping the board follows up on that recommendation, where we can be adequately given the money that is needed."
West Indies failed to qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup, a year after they also missed out on qualifying for the Super 12 stage of the 2022 T20 World Cup. This year, the West Indies team will not play the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, after narrowly missing out on qualification.
They have finished eighth out of ninth in all three editions of the World Test Championship, and have lost all three games they've played this cycle. Overall, the West Indies men's team have registered 27 wins from 73 international matches since the start of 2024, with a win percentage of 0.627, the second-lowest among all Full Member teams after Zimbabwe (0.441).
Lara: Need West Indies cricketers to play with wholeheartedness
The push from West Indies cricket’s greats for a larger share of ICC revenue is also driven by the fact that several leading names have chosen to skip or step away from international duty to pursue lucrative T20 contracts around the world. The primary concern is that without better pay structures, the talent from the island will continue to pursue cricket elsewhere, leaving the international side weakened.
The concerns stem from Nicholas Pooran’s decision to retire from international cricket at just 29, as he decided to play for franchises instead. Lloyd elaborated on this: “People must realise that T20 is an exhibition and Test cricket is an examination. When you are getting offered the type of money that these guys are being offered, there's only one way they'll go. It's a lot of money. The point is we have to try and keep the guys that we have, teach them the right things, and hope that our cricket will still be in shape."
Lara, too, warned that the motivations of modern cricketers have shifted. “When you see what's happening around the world with the IPL, the American cricket league [MLC]. The motivational factors we have to tap into: what motivates youngsters today? It might not be just representing West Indies 365 days of the year. It might be playing in an IPL or a BBL, or something else. We have to find out those interests and see where West Indies cricket can still benefit from the youngsters.
Also Read: Explained: Why Nicholas Pooran has retired from international cricket aged 29
"It's unfortunate [that] a young man at the age of 29, like Nicholas Pooran, will call an end to his international career. Find out why these things are happening and how we can stem that sort of situation and we get the best players to play for West Indies. Australia, India and England and these countries benefit from wholeheartedness from their players, the passion that they have playing for their country. We have to get that to return to West Indies cricket."
CWI’s director of cricket, Miles Bascombe, conceded that the board cannot match franchise salaries. “We will never be able to compete with franchise money, everybody acknowledges that. So it has to be pride. Pride in the performance and pride in representing the West Indies."
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