[EXCLUSIVE] "It's almost like a race to the bottom between the West Indies and Pakistan": Fazeer Mohamed

[Ball Blazer]

In this exclusive interview, commentator and journalist Fazeer Mohamed provides a critical analysis of the prolonged crisis in West Indies cricket. The renowned voice of Caribbean cricket reflects on the recent series loss to Nepal, the structural failures of the administration, the alarming parallels with Pakistan cricket, the prospect of two-tier Test cricket — and much more.

Key revelations include:

⁠⁠Second-division status: "The West Indies are a second-division nation as far as test match cricket. It's almost like a race to the bottom between the West Indies and Pakistan" - Mohamed notes the similarity between West Indies and Pakistan cricket in their "infuriating nature of seeing talented players fritter away all that talent."

Due to the dominance of the "big three" (Australia, England, India) and the unbalanced schedule, Mohamed believes a two-division Test format is "probably inevitable. He would support the change only if it is "properly structured, formatted and properly funded by the ICC," but not if it is a purely "money making idea" leaving lesser nations to struggle.

⁠⁠Root of the problem: "The problems must be administration" - Identifying the core failure, Mohamed points out that the core problem is the CWI's governance structure, which is excessively political, tied to territorial loyalties, and works against the best interests of the game.

⁠⁠Cycle of madness: "If you're doing the same thing over and over again... that is the definition of madness."

⁠⁠On "new" plans: "I'm frankly tired of hearing about getting the legends involved" - He expresses deep cynicism regarding recent media releases from Cricket West Indies about new changes, calling the ideas "old ideas regurgitated."

⁠⁠Nepal defeat: "Nepal would have looked at West Indies as ripe for the picking" - The inconsistency was immediately highlighted when the West Indies lost a T20I series 2-1 to Nepal shortly after beating Pakistan. He points out that this is not an isolated incident, citing losses to associate members like Scotland (who knocked them out of the 2023 World Cup qualifiers) and the Netherlands.

Watch full interview with Saj here:

 

[zahid01]

Yes its definitely a sinking ship need to get a grip of things before it's to late this dictatorship pcb management needs to go need to go back to basics.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Actually WI fans feel the same way. They say we are becoming like pakistan.

 

[jnaveen1980]

I get the point about involving legends. What 80 year old Lloyd can do.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

They are making big losses by hosting teams other than the Big 3.

They can't even recover television production cost when they host SL, BD, PAK etc.

In fact, they are so broke that their Academy team and College &Campuses team won't be playing in their domestic competitions now and they have cut a couple of age group and women's domestic competitions as well

Chris Dehring bluntly admitted that the main reason they even host the aforementioned sides is to retain their full member status.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

As much of a trainwreck as Pakistan cricket is, West Indies are in a far worse place and have been for a very long time. Pakistan is a bottomless pit of mediocrity but atleast there is a huge population to pick from (majority of which are young people) and a viable talent pipeline. The talent pipeline in the Caribbean has completely dried up with most young athletes preferring to go for athletics. It's tough to imagine a future for West Indies cricket where they even manage to become mid-tier team.

 

[harshjoshi87]

West Indies will never improve with the new generation looking to make quick money by playing in franchise leagues.

If they get enough money in test cricket, I am sure we will see rise of WI again, ICC should handout a match fee to these WI players for participating in the World Test Championship.

 

[Josh]

Unnecessary comparison with Pakistan. West windies are at the bottom and Pakistan is a mid tier team

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I saw a quote from Darren Sammy where he mentioned that as a coach when he picks up the phone to tell a player they have been picked for the West Indies, he is unsure if they will say yes.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

don't think comparison is warranted, Windies have been bottom of the barrel for last two decades..
yes, there are massive problems ....
I somehow think/ or maybe wishful thinking ...the wallowing genetic gifts of the Constantine, Wes hall, sobers, Viv, Clive, MM, MH, garner, Ambrose, walshm, lara, shiv will somehow percolate and we would see players from the carribean that light up the tv screens like in yesteryears....

 

[shaz619]

Chanderpaul made his debut late in 2022 making a promising start in Australia,

Since then, this his how many Tests he has played:

2023 - 6 , ok by WI’s standards and he got decent experience, not enough but a good workout for him.

2024 - 2

2025 - 2

How can you expect to develop talent like this?

 

[BouncerGuy]

Chanderpaul made his debut late in 2022 making a promising start in Australia,

Since then, this his how many Tests he has played:

2023 - 6 , ok by WI’s standards and he got decent experience, not enough but a good workout for him.

2024 - 2

2025 - 2

How can you expect to develop talent like this?

Same issue with Pakistan... We are not playing enough test cricket...

 

[Ball Blazer]

Daren Sammy on deep-rooted CWI issues:

“I mean, the last time we won a series here in India, I was just born. My mom had just had me, in 1983. So the troubles that we have didn’t start now. In 1983, some great players were playing. So I know now I’m under the microscope, I’m in the middle, and we’re open to being criticised by everybody. But the root of the problem didn’t start two years ago. Something way back.”

“It’s like a cancer that’s already in the system. And you know, if you don’t beat cancer, you know what happens. And again, I think it’s Breast Cancer [Awareness] Month, so it’s a good way to put it, that our problems don’t lie on the surface. It’s rooted deep into our system. And that is something we will continue to change. The immediate thing is, try and encourage the guys, train better, better mindset and all these things. And hopefully steps could be taken in the right direction.”

“Look, [it’s] the history we bring, or the history we have, and the legacy we have left on this game in all formats.”

“Obviously the way we play now, everybody will lean towards that. But if we take that aside, and understand the impact that the West Indies team have had in international cricket, I think all what we ask for, we deserve.”

“You know you speak to so many other teams. The inspiration that Vivian Richards’ team had, or the impact it had, even here in India, the impact these guys had on the next generation, West Indies contributed to that. I remember watching [West Indies playing] five Test-match series [around the world]. It’s like India now. Everybody wants India to tour, because that’s where the financial gains are. India brings that to the home territory. That was West Indies in the past.”

“But we did not reap those financial rewards. We were playing five Test matches, three-four months in one place, entertaining the world, where other parts benefited. So for now, when we, over the years, whether it be through lack of management, whatever it is, we are in need of those financial resources to help us grow and move forward, I think we deserve that. Because of the impact we’ve had.”

“We could only work with what we have and who’s willing. The inability to match some of the franchises across the world has been an issue. But what I always tell these guys, if we complain about not having the best facilities, not having enough manpower like the other teams, not having the best technology, all these things which the other teams are superior to us, it’s no secret.”

"The difference in the different teams, the top 3-4 teams in the world versus the bottom four. We’ve been struggling for finance for a long time. That’s one of the reasons why Brian (Lara), Shiv (Chanderpaul) they’re going to have this event this afternoon. Trying to see if we can get sponsors to help in some of the areas that we need improvement.”

“For me as a coach, when I call a player and I tell him that he has been selected for West Indies, and I’m hoping that he accepts the selection, that tells us where our cricket is.”

“As a kid, I remember in 2004, me being at Lord’s, MCC Young Cricketers, and getting a call. Once I saw the area code 1268, I knew it was from Antigua, I was hoping it was a call from the West Indies Cricket Board, and how excited I was.”

"Times have changed. We [can] only work with what we have, and who’s willing. And the inability to match some of the franchises across the world [financially], it has been an issue.”

“But what I always tell these guys [is], if we complain about not having the best facilities, not having enough manpower like the other teams, not having the best technology, all these things which the other teams are superior to us [in], then why the hell are they still outworking us? The only way we could match up [and] compete at a consistent level is if we as the coaches and the players are prepared to outwork the opposition, and we’re not doing that.”

“So that’s where I’ve actually challenged them. When you practise, when you train, when you strategise, to be more precise, more purposeful. And I must say, again today, I’ve seen them starting to understand what we’re trying to do.”

“When I took on this Test job, I wanted to change the way we played, the results that we have. What we did was look at, especially from the batsmen, look at our most consistent batters in international cricket, whether it be T20, whether it be ODIs, whether it be Test matches, and put it together and see how best we could get a batting group. And that’s what we’ve done. It’s been, I think this will be the fifth Test match with that regime, and it’s not worked.”

“Mind you, when I look at the job I had, I saw Australia in the Caribbean, India in India, and New Zealand in New Zealand. I knew it was going to be very difficult. It will be probably the three most challenging series that we’ll have, whether it be home or away.”

“And I understand what we try to build. The director of cricket, the vision that we have, and also the players that we want to play. So I take all that into consideration. But what we cannot have, like I said is, against all the odds, the opposition is still outworking us. And that’s the biggest issue for me.”

“You don’t need talent to work hard. You don’t need talent to be motivated. It’s not a skill. The skill you need is to go and play. But the mindset. That’s what it takes. And I’m trying to continue to instil that in the guys.”

“Hopefully the guys who’ve gotten the opportunities [will start performing]. If it doesn’t work, obviously I’ve got to go back and see what’s there in the Caribbean. But again for me, dealing with all of that is just trusting the process. And don’t look at the result before the process has been executed.”

"Growing up, we had heroes. [Brian] Lara, Sir Viv, [Curtly] Ambrose, [Courtney] Walsh, [Richie] Richardson. We had so many different heroes. Ian Bishop. So many, that me watching cricket with my father, I would say, ‘Oh, I want to be like this guy.’”

“There’s a challenge here now. I always challenge the guys [in the team], which kid in the Caribbean is watching you, and you are inspiring? If you notice, we’ve been, over the last decade, the format where the heroes come from has been the T20 format. And that’s why you see some of the direction in which the younger players are heading. That’s where the heroes are. That’s where they see people they want to be like from the Caribbean.”

“So it’s hard, but we will not stop trying, because winning builds and shows that it could be done, and we’ve not been able to do that for a long time.”

 

[cricketAXEpert]

In this exclusive interview, commentator and journalist Fazeer Mohamed provides a critical analysis of the prolonged crisis in West Indies cricket. The renowned voice of Caribbean cricket reflects on the recent series loss to Nepal, the structural failures of the administration, the alarming parallels with Pakistan cricket, the prospect of two-tier Test cricket — and much more.

Key revelations include:

⁠⁠Second-division status: "The West Indies are a second-division nation as far as test match cricket. It's almost like a race to the bottom between the West Indies and Pakistan" - Mohamed notes the similarity between West Indies and Pakistan cricket in their "infuriating nature of seeing talented players fritter away all that talent."

Due to the dominance of the "big three" (Australia, England, India) and the unbalanced schedule, Mohamed believes a two-division Test format is "probably inevitable. He would support the change only if it is "properly structured, formatted and properly funded by the ICC," but not if it is a purely "money making idea" leaving lesser nations to struggle.

⁠⁠Root of the problem: "The problems must be administration" - Identifying the core failure, Mohamed points out that the core problem is the CWI's governance structure, which is excessively political, tied to territorial loyalties, and works against the best interests of the game.

⁠⁠Cycle of madness: "If you're doing the same thing over and over again... that is the definition of madness."

⁠⁠On "new" plans: "I'm frankly tired of hearing about getting the legends involved" - He expresses deep cynicism regarding recent media releases from Cricket West Indies about new changes, calling the ideas "old ideas regurgitated."

⁠⁠Nepal defeat: "Nepal would have looked at West Indies as ripe for the picking" - The inconsistency was immediately highlighted when the West Indies lost a T20I series 2-1 to Nepal shortly after beating Pakistan. He points out that this is not an isolated incident, citing losses to associate members like Scotland (who knocked them out of the 2023 World Cup qualifiers) and the Netherlands.

Watch full interview with Saj here:

Fazeer is right on the money. Pakistan is spiraling down like West Indies and one does not know which one has fallen harder. It is not just poor management but the focus on T20. T20 cricket maybe a good money marker but it is poorest quality of cricket. It produces gimmick players with limited ability like Haris Rauf or Asif Ali(who can't play longer format and are one trick ponies).
The Solution is to focus on Tests and the First Class cricket. Play more Test matches and encourage players to take part in domestic First class. Also if they can, they should play County cricket in England and also try to play first class in other SENA Countries to improve their skill level.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Cricket will just be kept alive by big 3 otherwise there isnt much to look forward to.

 

[rpant_gabba]

The fate of WI is directly connected to this

Seitz decision - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

This is start if the free agency in MLB and in general American sports. For the Caribbean public the odds were with baseball/basketball for a better life than cricket. The focus shifted away from cricket at the grass roots and thats all she wrote

 

[Bewal Express]

I think the Windies are in more trouble because people have stopped caring and the ones that do are in the 50s. No Jamaican cares if they win or lose and or more often than not, thet won't even know there is a match going on.
On the other hand, whether are the worst team in the World, PKs will still care. We will always have players but no professional system to develop the talent. The money has to be spent on development of new grounds and better wickets and paying the players at the FC level a proper salary.

 

[ElRaja]

both teams are abject failures of the professional era. id add sri lanka in there too, all three teams have dropped a level below big 3 + sa, nz. yes pak have a big population and local support, but the same didnt stop pak hockey from dropping from world beaters to total minnows.

in an era of investment, analysis, development and professionalism you cannot compete with semi pro systems.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Windies might still be fine.. Look better on paper than the current tulla brigade of Pakistan... Pakistan has been a bigger minnow than Windies atm.

 

[Katwalindian]

E

Same issue with Pakistan... We are not playing enough test cricket...

Every team is playing six series in cycle...stop this nonsense excuses ...Pakistan plays big teams like Aus, England more than NZ, SA and westindies

 

[BouncerGuy]

E

Every team is playing six series in cycle...stop this nonsense excuses ...Pakistan plays big teams like Aus, England more than NZ, SA and westindies

India has already played 7 games and Pakistan has played only 2 and they have to wait for few months again to play next... The difference is big

Australia will play 21 total

Pakistan 13
India 18

There is a huge difference brother...huge

 

[hassan918]

Windies might still be fine.. Look better on paper than the current tulla brigade of Pakistan... Pakistan has been a bigger minnow than Windies atm.

With the kind of power they have in their batting, they are likely to do better than Pakistan in T20 cricket. Not sure about test cricket as their bowling isn't that potent.

 

[chakdeindian]

There is a difference b/n WI and Pak..WI players prioritize league crickets and hence don't much focus on their national team..even now WI players sell like hot cakes across all world leagues..where Pak by default is a least talented team with uninspiring players all around..their cricket is dependent on national teams performance which is currently in ICU..

 

[Katwalindian]

Next year india is only playing only 4 while pak will be playing 10.....any other excuse? Instead of improving your cricket, pick lame excuses same as captain mindset....

India has already played 7 games and Pakistan has played only 2 and they have to wait for few months again to play next... The difference is big

Australia will play 21 total

Pakistan 13
India 18

There is a huge difference brother...huge