Viv Richards blames 'arrogant' West Indies board for decline
West Indies cricketing legend Viv Richards has called the West Indies' cricket board 'arrogant' and has blamed it for the decline in WI's cricket. West Indies have failed to qualify for June's Champions Trophy, where the top eight ODI sides will compete. The team is also at a risk of missing out on an automatic berth for World Cup 2019.
Batting great Viv Richards has slammed "arrogant" Caribbean administrators for thinking they are as important as players and has laid the blame for the decline of West Indies cricket firmly at their door.West Indies were world beaters in the 1970s and 1980s when Richards was in his pomp but are no longer among the top sides in the test and 50-over formats. (Also Read:  Virat must have felt strongly to make 'no longer friends' statement: Viv Richards to India Today)They have failed to qualify for June's Champions Trophy, where the top eight one-day international sides will compete, and also risk missing out on an automatic berth for the 2019 World Cup.From Friday, West Indies host Pakistan in a three-ODI series that could prove crucial to their hopes of an automatic World Cup berth but most of their best players will be taking part in the Indian Premier League (IPL). (Also Read:  IPL's success has been shared around by all the teams: Viv Richards to India Today)"When you have an arrogant administrative unit, guys are going to pick and choose," Richards told ESPNcricinfo in an interview."We must remember that many of the players come from humble backgrounds."I have no qualms in saying this, some of these administrators think they are as important as the players on the field. They are not."The top seven teams and hosts England have direct berths at the 2019 World Cup with the cut-off date being the end of September. West Indies are currently ranked ninth and risk having to play the qualifiers.A number of high-profile players have declined the West Indies Cricket Board's (WICB) central contract in the last few years, plying their trade in T20 tournaments across the globe."I think it is a bigger issue than about the guys playing in our domestic competition," Richards added."Most of the guys played there when they first started out, that's what they wanted to do."But when you get an administration who thinks that they are the most important entity where West Indies cricket is concerned, they better wake up."The 65-year-old, the most destructive batsman of his era, hit 24 hundreds in 121 tests in the glory days of Caribbean cricket.He thinks the current situation might not be terminal if former players can be brought back into the fold.