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In this exclusive interview, renowned broadcaster and the voice of Caribbean cricket, Fazeer Mohamed, joins PakPassion for a candid conversation ahead of the T20 World Cup. He provides expert analysis on the tournament's crowded schedule, the high-profile withdrawals and political tensions involving Bangladesh and Pakistan, and delivers a frank assessment of the West Indies' chances. He delves into the team's persistent struggle with consistency, the influence of coach Darren Sammy, the promise of new talent, and identifies the leading contenders for the title.
Key revelations include:
• On Bangladesh's stance: "Bangladesh held their ground... I admire that they stood their ground." - Bangladesh withdrew from the tournament after being refused permission to play matches outside of India for security reasons. Fazeer attributes this to political tensions triggered by the removal of Mustafizur Rahman from his IPL contract.
• On Pakistan's delay: "Pakistan's delay comes across as political posturing." - Regarding Pakistan's delayed confirmation of participation, Fazeer describes it as "political posturing" that can make the board look foolish if they ultimately participate without making a significant statement.
• West Indies' core issue: "Consistency continues to be the bugbear for West Indies cricket." - Despite a squad packed with T20 league stars like Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, and Andre Russell, the West Indies continue to struggle with consistency at the international level.
• A probing question on pride: "Do our players even appreciate what it means to play for the West Indies?" - Fazeer warns against underestimating teams like Scotland, who have beaten the West Indies in previous major tournaments (2022 T20 World Cup and 2023 50-over qualifiers)
• On coach's power: "Darren Sammy has too much influence in decision making." - There is ongoing debate in the Caribbean about Darren Sammy holding dual roles as head coach and chief selector. Fazeer notes the pressure on Sammy to deliver results, as many feel too much decision-making power rests on one person.
• Tournament favourites: "It's difficult to look beyond India, Australia, England, New Zealand and certainly South Africa." - He specifically mentions South Africa as a team to watch, noting their familiarity with Indian conditions and their drive to win their first major T20 title.
Watch full interview with Saj here:
Key revelations include:
• On Bangladesh's stance: "Bangladesh held their ground... I admire that they stood their ground." - Bangladesh withdrew from the tournament after being refused permission to play matches outside of India for security reasons. Fazeer attributes this to political tensions triggered by the removal of Mustafizur Rahman from his IPL contract.
• On Pakistan's delay: "Pakistan's delay comes across as political posturing." - Regarding Pakistan's delayed confirmation of participation, Fazeer describes it as "political posturing" that can make the board look foolish if they ultimately participate without making a significant statement.
• West Indies' core issue: "Consistency continues to be the bugbear for West Indies cricket." - Despite a squad packed with T20 league stars like Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, and Andre Russell, the West Indies continue to struggle with consistency at the international level.
• A probing question on pride: "Do our players even appreciate what it means to play for the West Indies?" - Fazeer warns against underestimating teams like Scotland, who have beaten the West Indies in previous major tournaments (2022 T20 World Cup and 2023 50-over qualifiers)
• On coach's power: "Darren Sammy has too much influence in decision making." - There is ongoing debate in the Caribbean about Darren Sammy holding dual roles as head coach and chief selector. Fazeer notes the pressure on Sammy to deliver results, as many feel too much decision-making power rests on one person.
• Tournament favourites: "It's difficult to look beyond India, Australia, England, New Zealand and certainly South Africa." - He specifically mentions South Africa as a team to watch, noting their familiarity with Indian conditions and their drive to win their first major T20 title.
Watch full interview with Saj here:
