One of the game’s stalwarts, Sir Andy Roberts, has blasted Cricket West Indies (CWI) for scheduling too many India matches in Trinidad, allowing the people to support the visitors rather than the home team. Speaking to Cricbuzz on Roberts emphasised the attitude taken by the Caribbean region’s game’s administration—previously the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and currently the CWI—toward the India games.
“That is the way it has been. When we were playing, if we had five Test matches against India, two would be in Trinidad. It was because more people would come to watch those games. Those were the non-television days and more crowds in the ground had meant more revenue. It is no longer that way now, the revenue comes from the television but still the board plays more India games in Trinidad or Guyana,” said Sir Andy Roberts.
“We are looking at the Indian population in both Trinidad and Guyana. What other reason do we have for playing every tour India makes in Trinidad or Guyana? Every time India come, they play Trinidad or Guyana, invariably; same for Bangladesh (team). We believe the Indians will watch Indians. Have a team from Africa come here, do you think the Indians will watch the Africans,” he told Mason & Guest Radio programme earlier in the day and reiterated the point in conversation with this website too.