The West Indies were known for Test cricket in the 1970s and ’80s — probably the only team in the world that scared opponents with the red ball. Their bowling attack had a fearsome group of Andy Roberts, Michael Holding (called “Whispering Death”), Joel Garner, and Colin Croft, with the fiery Malcolm Marshall also making it stronger.

There were also great batsmen like Vivian Richards, Gordon Greenidge, and Desmond Haynes, who were as ruthless as the fast bowlers. At the head of the team was the strong and commanding Clive Lloyd.

From Glory to Decline

Even through the 1990s, the West Indies remained a strong team. Brian Lara became the face of Caribbean cricket, while Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh carried on the legacy of the island’s fearsome fast bowlers.

But in the 2000s, things changed. The West Indies lost their dominance in Test cricket, even though they did better in limited-overs games. Their cricket system began to fail, affecting players’ earnings. With the rise of franchise cricket, mainly in India and then worldwide, Caribbean players became very popular. Many stars started choosing franchise teams over the iconic maroon jersey of the West Indies.

Recently, their performance against India in the Ahmedabad Test was worrying. India won by an innings and 140 runs in just two-and-a-half days. Roston Chase’s team had not even recovered when Lara criticized Cricket West Indies, questioning the players’ intent.

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Sammy Speaks on Legacy and Financial Struggles

“If you want to get things done, you need the resources to do it. But more importantly, I want to ask Roston Chase and the others: do they have cricket at heart? Do they really want to play for the West Indies? That is the most important,” Lara said during the CEAT Cricket Rating awards.

West Indies coach Darren Sammy responded to Lara’s comment. Sammy said the West Indies shaped world cricket from the 1970s to the 1990s but never got the financial rewards like countries such as India.

“Today, everyone leans towards the way we play now. But if we look at the impact West Indies had in international cricket, I think we deserve what we ask for,” Sammy said.

“The team of Vivian Richards inspired generations, even here in India. We played long Test series, entertaining the world, while others benefited financially. We need those resources to grow and move forward. We deserve that because of our impact,” he added.

Chase’s Pride and Vision for Change

Money is important, but mindset matters more. Captain Roston Chase, who chose country over franchise cricket, is proud to wear the maroon jersey and believes change is possible.

“We had a team event yesterday, and I spoke with Lara and Viv Richards. They told me to keep believing — we may be down now, but things will change,” Chase said.

“That change starts now, with the belief and mindset of every player. My goal is to motivate the team so we can play positive cricket and improve our situation,” he added.

Chase did not comment much on players leaving international cricket for T20 leagues. Instead, he focused on his pride in representing the West Indies.

“For me, playing for the West Indies has always been a dream. I could have played franchise cricket, but I chose my country. Being captain is a big responsibility, and I want to give my all for the maroon jersey,” he said.

As Sammy said, financial issues and lack of quality are “a cancer deep in the system.” While West Indies cricket has declined, its rich history and legacy remain important to the country’s cricket fraternity.

Former India batter Aakash Chopra questioned West Indies’ place in Test cricket after their poor show on Day 1 of the first Test against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday, October 2. The team led by Roston Chase was all out for just 162 runs after choosing to bat first, lasting only two sessions.

The West Indies batters could not handle India’s strong bowling attack and lost four wickets in the first hour. Justin Greaves was the only batter to score more than 30 runs as India started their home season in a strong way.

West Indies struggle on Day 1 in Ahmedabad

The West Indies failed with the ball as well. India’s openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal played the new ball with ease. The visitors badly missed the injured Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph. At stumps on Day 1, India stood at 121-2, trailing by only 41 runs in the first innings.

Also Read -Zimbabwe qualify for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026

Former India batter Aakash Chopra said that West Indies lacked strength, especially in batting. He pointed out that most of their top-order batters have an average in the 20s. Only Tagenarine Chanderpaul has an average above 30, but even that is just 31.11. Chopra questioned if such numbers were good enough for Test cricket.

Call for a tier system in Test cricket

Chopra called West Indies’ batting “sub-standard” and said their decline was clear. He added that fans cannot be expected to watch five days of one-sided games. To fix this, he suggested a tier system in the World Test Championship (WTC), with two groups of six teams each, promotion, and relegation.

He noted that while upsets do happen, they are rare. Most matches are one-sided, which hurts Test cricket. Chopra also criticised the empty stands in Ahmedabad, saying the lack of crowd interest shows the problem. He argued that smaller venues should host Tests instead of big cities where people take the matches for granted.

Nepal vs West Indies 2nd T20I: Nepal will face the West Indies for the second time in the West Indies vs Nepal match in the UAE. Nepal won their first game of the series and aims to establish itself in the T20I format. This match will be held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, at 8:00. In this article, we will explore the WI vs NEP playing 11, pitch reports, and key players' stats.

Nepal vs West Indies 2nd T20I Match Details:

Nepal Team Preview:

The Nepal team has made a great start in this series by defeating the West Indies by 19 runs. After losing the first two wickets early, Rohit, along with Kushal Malla, steadied the innings and formed a strong partnership.

Skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel scored 38 runs, while Kushal Malla scored 30 runs and set a respectable target of 149. All-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee was also looking in good rhythm; he scored 17 runs and took 1 wicket. In the second half, Kushal Bhurtel delivered a brilliant bowling spell, helping Nepal to win over the West Indies.

Nepal's Key players:

West Indies Team Preview: 

West Indies' poor performance continues in this series as well, and they lost the first match to Nepal by 19 runs. In this match, Caribbean batters failed to chase down the modest total of 149 runs and managed to reach to 129 runs. Navin Bidaisee was their highest run-scorer with just 22 runs. 

In the last over of the match, skipper Akeal Hosein showcased some aggressive shots and scored 18 runs on just 9 balls. However, the West Indies were excellent in bowling, with Jason Holder taking four wickets and Navin Bidaisee taking three wickets. To save its honour, the West Indies team can make a big turnaround in the second T20 match.

West Indies’ Key Players: 

Nepal vs West Indies 2nd T20I Probable Playing XI

Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (WK), Rohit Kumar Paudel, Kushal Malla, Sundeep Jora, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, KC Karan, Lalit Rajbanshi

West Indies: Akeal Hosein, Kyle Mayers, Amir Jangoo (WK), Ackeem Auguste, Jewel Andrew, Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Navin Bidaisee, Ramon Simmond, Obed McCoy, Keacy Carty

Scoring pattern at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah:

Sharjah's pitches generally favour batsmen, making it easier for those with a good strike to score runs. Initially, the ball doesn't bounce much and comes straight, allowing batsmen to play accurate shots. Over time, the pitch is likely to wear down or break down, which can aid spin bowlers.

Nepal vs West Indies 2nd T20I Match Prediction:

The West Indies team is going through a challenging phase after losing 2 consecutive T20I series. The Windies lost the first match of this T20 series by 19 runs. The Caribbean side is currently 6th in the ICC T20 ranking, and they can bounce back in the 2nd T20I.

Nepal vs West Indies 2nd T20I Squad:

Nepal Squad: Aarif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel, Rohit Paudel (C), Sundeep Jora, Aadil Ansari, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Karan KC, Kushal Malla, Aasif Sheikh (WK), Lokesh Bam (WK), Lalit Rajbanshi, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Shahab Alam, Sompal Kami

West Indies Squad: Akeal Hosein (c), Fabian Allen, Jewel Andrew, Ackeem Auguste, Navin Bidaisse, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Karima Gore, Jason Holder, Amir Jangoo, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Zishan Motara, Ramon Simmonds, Shamar Springer

NEP vs WI 1st T20I Match Preview:

Nepal will face the West Indies in the first match of the T20I series. This is Nepal's first bilateral series against the West Indies. Nepal won 3 out of their last 5 games. In this series, they have great opportunities to learn from T20 specialists players like Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers and Akeal Hosein. On the other hand, the West Indies side has also gone through a challenging phase in the T20 format.

West Indies suffered a 5-0 whitewash in their home series against Australia and also lost their previous series against Pakistan 2-1. In this series, Akeal Hosein will lead the Caribbean side, while CPL sensation Amir Jangoo is set to make his debut in the first game.

NEP vs WI Recent Performance:

NEP vs WI: Nepal and West Indies tour of UAE, 2025 Match Details:

• Series/Tournament: T20I Series, 2025

• Match: NEP vs WI 1st T20I Match

• Date: 27 Sept. 2025

• Match Start Time: 03:00 PM IST

• Stadium/Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

• Live Score: cricketwinner.com

• Live Streaming: Fan Code app.

NEP vs WI Head-to-Head Stats:

NEP vs WI Pitch & Weather Report:

The weather forecast for this 1st T20I game is ideal. The sky will be clear. There is a low chance of rain. The temperature can go up to 37 degrees Celsius. 

According to previous data, the average score at this venue ranges between 150 and 170 runs. The surface is excellent for the batters, promising a high-scoring contest.

Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Stats: 

In the last 5 games at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, approximately 62% of matches have been won by the batting first side, indicating that the surface is more favourable for batters in the first inning.      

NEP vs WI Dream11 Prediction Playing 11

Nepal (NEP) Probable 11:

1. Kushal Bhurtel, 2. Gulsan Jha, 3. Rohit Kumar Paudel(C), 4. Arif Sheikh, 5. Dipendra Singh-Airee, 6. Kushal Malla, 7. Nandan Yadav, 8. Sandeep Lamichhane, 9. KC Karan, 10. Sompal Kami, 11. Shahab Alam

West Indies (WI) Probable 11:

1. Kyle Mayers, 2. Keacy Carty, 3. Navin Bidaisee, 4. Ackeem Auguste, 5. Amir Jangoo(WK), 6. Jason Holder, 7. Karima Gore, 8. Shamar Springer, 9. Akeal Hosein(C), 10. Fabian Allen, 11. Obed McCoy

NEP vs WI- Top Picks from Nepal

NEP vs WI- Top Picks from West Indies

NEP vs WI Captain & Vice-Captain Choices:

NEP vs WI Fantasy Team Suggestion:  

NEP vs WI Dream11 Prediction Expert Advice 

NEP vs WI Dream11 Prediction Probable Winners:

West Indies is expected to win this match. West Indies is an experienced team, while Nepal is an emerging team. The West Indies have an explosive batting unit and have experienced pacers in their bowling lineup. 

NEP vs WI 1st T20I FAQ

Who is likely to win the NEP vs WI match today?

West Indies is expected to win this match.

Who is ahead in head-to-head stats?    

West Indies is ahead.

Who are the top fantasy picks for the NEP vs WI Dream11 team?

Kyle Mayers, Jason Holder, Amir Jangoo, Akeal Hosein.

What is the pitch report for this match?

The surface is flat and excellent for batters, and we can expect an average score range between 150 and 170 runs.

West Indies and Pakistan came into the third and final encounter of the 50-over series with a 1-1 drawn margin at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. It had been 34 years since the Caribbean side beat Pakistan in an ODI series, as the touring captain, Mohammed Rizwan, won the toss and chose to bowl first on a surface which he anticipated would get better in the second innings.

The home side didn’t enjoy a great start, but the 110-run seventh-wicket stand between captain Shai Hope and Justin Graves provided them with the vital firepower. The former smashed an unbeaten knock of 120 runs in 94 balls at a strike rate of 127.66 with the help of 10 boundaries and five sixes, while Greaves drilled an undefeated 43 runs in 24 balls at a strike rate of 180.

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Later, it was Jayden Seales, who ran through the visiting batting line with his incredible bowling performance. He drew the first blood when Saim Ayub got an outside edge into the hands of the wicket-keeper for a three-ball duck. In the third over, Abdullah Shafique’s mistimed shot ended his life for an eight-ball duck.

Watch: Jayden Seales rips apart Pakistan to end 34-year-old ODI series drought

The Trinidad-born sent back the opponent captain for the first ball duck. It was the good length delivery that nipped back sharply to break the stumps of Rizwan, who was completely flummoxed with the movement. The final nail in the coffin during the chase was Babar Azam’s leg before the stumps dismissals for nine runs.

Jayden Seales is soooo underrated. Got his maiden 5fer too! #WIvPAK pic.twitter.com/YhaQLD2ctb

— Eems (@NaeemahBenjamin) August 12, 2025

Seales later came back to hold the caught-and-bowled dismissal of Naseem Shah for six runs. The right-handed batter couldn’t keep the short ball on the surface as it lobbed off the shoulder before the bowler grabbed a fine catch. His sixth wicket was Hasan Ali, whose defense was breached on the third ball for a duck.

Seales ended with 6/18, which is the joint second-best figures by a West Indies men’s ODI player. The visitors were folded up for just 92 runs, which saw the West Indies side win their first 50-over series over this opposition in 34 years.

West Indies have announced a 15-member squad for the ODI series against Pakistan. The three-match series will be played in Trinidad. The team will be led by Shai Hope and includes several young players who have performed well for the West Indies recently. All-rounder Romario Shepherd makes a return to the ODI squad for the first time since the series against Bangladesh last year.

Young Talents Retained as West Indies Announce Squad for Pakistan ODIs

Eighteen-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Jewel Andrew, who made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka last year, has kept his place in the team. He also played in the recent ODI series in England. Left-arm fast bowler Jediah Blades, who got his first cap against Bangladesh in 2024, has been called back. Amir Jangoo, who scored a century on his ODI debut against Bangladesh last year, is also included after playing against Ireland in May.

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Coach Sammy Focused on World Cup Qualification

The West Indies are going into the series after losing the T20I series 2-1 at home. Head coach Daren Sammy said this ODI series is important for the team’s chances to qualify for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

“Pakistan will be a different challenge as we push for automatic qualification,” Sammy said. “Our main goal is to qualify, but we also want to build a winning mindset and team unity for long-term success.”

He added, “Playing against stronger teams like Pakistan gives us a chance to earn important ranking points that will help us in the road to the World Cup.”

West Indies are currently ranked 10th in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings. Pakistan are ranked 4th, behind India, New Zealand, and Australia.

West Indies Squad for Pakistan ODI Series:

Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd.

Just before the start of the five-match T20I series for the West Indies against Australia, the veteran all-rounder, Andre Russell, announced that the second T20I clash of the series in Jamaica will be his last international encounter in the Maroon. It was a bolt from the blue decision for the experienced campaigner, especially with just six months to go for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. 

On July 22 (July 23 on IST), Andre Russell walked out before the start of the game with a guard of honour as all the players from both camps clapped in appreciation of the incredible contribution from the individual. It was my massive evening in the West Indies, which they called Dre Day, and he received a great moment alongside the warm applause.

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The 37-year-old finished his T20I career with 1122 runs at a strike rate of 163.8- thanks to three half-centuries at the best score of 71 runs. With the ball, on the other hand, the right-arm pacer picked up 61 wickets in 74 innings at an average of 31.19 and an economy rate of well over nine.

Watch: Guard of honour for Andre Russell on retirement from international cricket

Russell was brutal with the bat in the evening as he smacked Ben Dwarshuis for a huge six straight down the ground as the ball made a hold in the sight screen. When the left-arm pacer pulled the length back, the batter used his power to drill it behind the square region for another six. Another wide delivery was put into the stands as he finished with 36 runs in just 15 balls at a strike rate of 240.

Dre Russ takes his final walk in the Maroon🌴 , honored by teammates, hailed by fans🙌🏾 and etched forever in West Indies Cricket Legend.🏏✌🏾💥 #WIvAUS | #DreDay | #FullAhEnergy pic.twitter.com/bUBKXO92MP

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 23, 2025

‘I remember the two World Cups we won, the flags going high, but at the end of the day - I think it was time to move ahead, we have a good bunch of guys (in the team), Shephard is throwing some punches and there are the likes of Rutherford, Alzarri and Holder as well.’ He expressed after the end of the game.

Despite Russell’s knock, the West Indies could finish with only 172/8 in 20 overs before the visitors chased it down comfortably with eight wickets in hand and nearly five overs to spare. Josh Inglis won the ‘player of the match’ award for his 78 unbeaten runs in 33 balls.

The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) powerful board met on July 19 in Singapore as part of the annual general meeting’s press conference. Several big-ticket issues were discussed in the meeting before a final decision will be made on July 20. The most important part of the discussion will be regarding the Los Angeles Olympic qualification.

The regional rankings will cut the men’s tournament from July 12 to 29 in Pomona, which is nearly 30 miles east of Los Angeles. Under this aspect, the top-ranked sides of Asia, Europe, and Africa will qualify alongside the United States, which will represent the Americans. The final decision will be taken by a qualifier, with the T20 rankings date as the likely outcome.

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The West Indies comprises various nations in the Caribbean, and they will have their regional competition to decide which region will get the tickets for the qualifier. The T20 World Cup will determine the women’s Olympic spot. Although it’s not confirmed if the US will get an automatic chance. More chances for teams are expected to happen in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

ICC Annual General Meeting: 32 Teams in T20 World Cup and USA suspension updates

There is an expectation of 32 teams getting extended during the T20 World Cup. As many as twenty teams competed in last year’s 20-over World Cup, which will remain the same in the next edition after 16 teams participated from 2016 to 2022. Due to the recent qualification of Italy and other new sides, it’s expected that the ICC will try to encourage more teams.

In the last two 50-over competitions, there were 10 teams. However, there is no requirement to increase it to 14 teams. There will be discussions of two divisions of the Test nations, along with the promotion and relegation basis, on how the funds will be distributed between them. All the decisions will be finally made on Sunday, July 20.

USA cricket is also expected to avoid the suspension and has been given three months to address the governance issues. There is a lot of scrutiny over the state with the Los Angeles Olympics just three months away. The USA cricket chair, Venu Pisike, and the CEO, Jonathan Atkeison, have meetings in Singapore.

The former England captain, Michael Atherton, has discussed the recent decline of the West Indies side in the longest format. Recently, the Caribbean side lost the three-match series to Australia by a margin of 0-3, and more specifically, got rolled over for just 27 runs in the fourth innings of the third Sabina Park Test in Jamaica, which is the second-lowest total in an inning.

Atherton reveals that the story of the Roston Chase-led side isn’t new, and he also expressed how the story hasn’t been the same in the white-ball form of the game. The former captain also shed light on how the game has lost spectators in the Caribbean, while most of the England fans are travelling for the Test series.

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‘It’s a sad tale, isn’t it? The West Indies, we seem to have written it, time and time again, about the decline of not so much of the white-ball or T20 cricket- the short form of cricket, but for the Test cricket, which seems to me is almost dead as a spectator sport there. When England go, you know, it’s only the England fans who travel for Tests.’ Atherton revealed during a recent podcast on Sky Sports Cricket.

Watch: Michael Atherton analyzes West Indies’ recent Test decline  

‘Now that England are not playing a Test in the Caribbean, they don’t play there in the next program. It’s a story that has been written time and time again and doesn’t seem to have easy answers. I notice they have called together a meeting of their greats.’ The former England opening batter added.  

Michael Atherton discusses the decline of the game in the West Indies 🏏 pic.twitter.com/gFY90hfdVw

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 18, 2025

Just the day after they managed 27 runs on the board, the WICB invited the former captains and batters for an emergency meeting, but Atherton wasn’t sure of how it would develop. ‘I am not sure what that’s going to achieve either. It’s been such a long time since the Red Ball decline. It’s the batting. Bowling looks strong with attacking bowlers, but Mitchell Starc with the pink ball was very tricky.’ The veteran addressed.

West Indies won’t have an easy time after this home series. They will soon make a Test trip to India in the autumn and later to New Zealand by the end of the series. The pressure is also immense on the coaching management to bring positive results.

The former West Indies captain, Brian Lara, has made a shocking revelation on how breaking the world record twice in his career took a lot out of him and gave him several stress periods. During his recent interaction on ‘The Overlap cricket,’ the southpaw spoke on the night when Matthew Hayden broke his record of 375

‘I wasn’t annoyed. I was asleep in Jamaica. And my agent called me, and he was in London. He said you need to have a number for you to call. I said why because I think he did a lot on that day. So, he might have gone to sleep at 1:00 something, and then he scored a couple of hundreds on that day.’ Lara talked on the show.

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Hayden smashed 380 runs at the WACA against Zimbabwe in 2003, which came nine years after Lara built the record of the highest individual Test score of 375 against England at St John's. Before that, the previous highest score by an individual batter was unbeaten 365 runs by Garry Sobers in 1958 against Pakistan at the Sabina Park.

Watch: Brian Lara reveals how breaking records put stress on him

Lara looked back at the night when he called Hayden and congratulated him on the record. ‘So, he had a number to call the Perth dressing room. But I said Why? He said that someone broke your record. I called the dressing room, and it was very noisy. I went to Matthew and congratulated him. But funny enough, I felt that for those 10 years, I had a lot of stress because of those two records.’

"The records caused me stress" 😰

Brian Lara on the pressure of being cricket’s record-breaker 📚 pic.twitter.com/CbLnqT596S

— Stick to Cricket (@StickToCricket) July 15, 2025

‘And one of my main things was actually to be a good captain and not to have strangled myself with the double world record. I wasn’t perturbed and didn’t worry much about it, but here came England 10 years later.’ The 56-year-old added during the same session.

However, Hayden’s 380 didn’t last long. Just six months later in 2004, at the same ground, St John’s Park, Lara became the first and the only batter as of now to celebrate 400 runs individually. That 400* is still the highest score by a batter in the longest format, coincidentally, along with the ground, it also came against England. The only difference was the opposition captains.