[EXCLUSIVE] "West Indies fans identify very closely with Pakistan": Fazeer Mohammed

[The Bald Eagle]

In our latest PakPassion Exclusive, esteemed Caribbean cricket voice Fazeer Mohammed delivers a post-mortem of West Indies cricket’s decline. The legendary commentator dissects the shocking 27 all out humiliation against Australia, unpacks why Pakistan remains a “special” opponent, and exposes the systemic failures crippling Caribbean cricket from within.

Key revelations

• T20I Freefall Diagnosis: West Indies' T20I slump stems from disrupted team cohesion due to frequent player shifts across T20 leagues, tactical stagnation, reliance on power hitting, and weak grassroots development, undermining squad stability and talent renewal.
• ODI Rock Bottom Admission: The 2019 ODI World Cup exposed the West Indies, with West Indies barely qualifying and finishing near the bottom due to inconsistent batting and bowling, frequent collapses, and inability to compete with top teams, highlighting deeper issues in white-ball cricket.
• Domestic Crisis: Caribbean domestic cricket suffers from declining quality caused by poor infrastructure, outdated training, logistical challenges, and governance problems like cronyism, hindering player development and international competitiveness, sparking calls for systemic reform.
• Coaching Controversy - Darren Sammy: Coach Darren Sammy faces criticism for public outbursts and disciplinary penalties, reflecting internal pressures; opinions differ between seeing him as a passionate defender or a distraction amid ongoing team struggles.
• Florida Strategy Explained: Cricket West Indies strategically hosts high-profile T20 matches in Florida to engage the diaspora and tap into the US market, aiming to boost fanbase and commercial revenue in a cricket-growing region.
• Pakistan Connection: West Indies and Pakistan share passionate fans united by a love for flamboyant, unpredictable cricket, fostering strong mutual support seen in crowds, social media, and cultural affinity for underdog spirit.

Watch the latest interview with Saj below:

 

[BouncerGuy]

Not only fans but the team also performs like Pakistan sometimes... Minnow level

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

When I started watching cricket regularly, WI already had their decline & were running on fumes with a couple of exceptional players just trying to fight against the inevitable sunset.

But I always had a connection with their team as I had grown up hearing their amazing tales from my father & brother. It was the team that they wanted to watch, it was the team that'd make my father carry my still very young brother then on his shoulders to cricket stadiums across Pakistan. The Windies had so much gravitas that they'd fill up stadiums to the level that police needed to baton charge the crowd to disperse/manage it. The tint of happiness in the eyes of my father when he'd tell me about the almost inhuman exploits of Marshall, Richards, Haynes & others was noticeable & it was a great matter of pride for him that it was almost impossible for everyone to beat that team except for Pakistan, who always gave them a run for their money.

So far this reason, my dream cricket XI for book cricket always had Viv & Marshall even though I'd never seen them play, & when Viv would get out, I'd always end up saying that this was just another player who was batting & make Viv bat again somehow (children do have unlimited imagination so I'd always bring up an excuse as how it was another playing wearing Vivs mask & batting in his place while the real Viv accidentally slept in his seat in the dressing room, etc).

This WI team, however, is not even entertaining let alone dominant like the team of the past. It's strange because the team isn't as bad as the final results if you look at them individually especially in bowling, Shamar, Alzarri, Holder, Roach, & Seyles make up a good bowling attack but somehow the sum of their parts is less than the value of the parts separately. So many of their players are global stars in lalloo panju leagues but when they play for WI, they lose all fearlessness, charisma, & panache & seem like scared caged kittens.

I need me a redemption arc, don't know how this will happen, or even if this will happen, but I want them to win test matches home & away, lift ICC titles & trophies, & get a second wind. Choti choti si khwahishaat hain meri