- By Namrata Vijay
- Wed, 13 Aug 2025 12:26 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
PAK vs WI 3rd ODI: Legendary West Indies cricketer Clive Lloyd has warned the board that they remain stuck in the 2nd tier of the WTC cycle if the sport's governing board begins a two-tier system. The West Indies cricket board had organised an emergency meeting after they suffered a clean sweep against Australia during a three-match Test series last month.
The host registered their lowest-ever innings total in the longest format, which was 27 runs against Australia. The result of this series was quite alarming as the ex-players had raised lots of issues for the host in this format.
West Indies are currently lying at the eighth position in ICC Test rankings, and if a two-tier system does come into place, then they won't be able to face the top four teams- Australia, South Africa, England, and India.
Clive Lloyd has thus sent a stern warning and has reckoned that if the two-tier system is introduced, then they would get stuck in the lower tier for at least 100 years.
He also revealed that the board should speak up against the ICC and ask for a larger amount of money.
“We have to look at what’s happening at the ICC with the share-out of the money. India, Australia, and England get 180 million, and the West Indies will get 80 million, like Bangladesh and Afghanistan, and we are just two years out of being in that group for 100 years,” Lloyd told ESPNcricinfo.
“To me, it’s not right. We have to stand up. We have to go to the ICC and ask for special dispensation. Because when we were in the ascendancy, and we were playing so well, everyone wanted to play with us," he said.
West Indies boasted of a formidable side way back in the 1970s and 1980s, where they used to have brilliant pacers. But this notion began to disappear over the years, and the board failed to back their cricketers owing to differences between them and the players.
“We were playing Australia very often, with England, and when we went to Pakistan or India, getting millions of people [to the grounds]. We need to get a better share of the pie, because we were the cash cows for a long time. And we need to get some of that. I am hoping the board follows up on that recommendation, where we can be adequately given the money that is needed,” he concluded.
Post getting cleaned swept against Australia during the Test series, they suffered a humiliating loss against Pakistan in the shortest format. But they bounced back brilliantly during the ODI series as they had defeated the Men in Green by 2-1. Shai Hope smashed a match-winning century, and then Jayden Seales took a six-wicket haul and rattled Pakistan's batting attack.