Official hits out at West Indies board for loss against Ireland

Port-of-Spain (Trinidad), Feb 22 (IANS/CMC) An official of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) has lashed out at the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) following the regional team's embarrassing loss to minnows Ireland in the opening T20 match at Kingston, Jamaica.

Patrick Rampersad, a TCCB member wants the WICB to "seriously" examine the state of the sport in the region, reports CMC.

The regional side lost to Ireland by six wickets in the first of two T20 matches at Sabina Park Wednesday.

"You are the world champions and being beaten is not out of this world but being beaten by minnows like Ireland in your own backyard is not acceptable," said Rampersad.

"Imagine a T&T 'B' team defeated this Ireland side."

In the lead-up to the current T20 series against West Indies, Ireland participated in the Nagico Super50 in Trinidad and suffered heavy defeats to both Guyana and Jamaica.

"I am calling on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to seriously look into the performances of this team and make the necessary adjustments in order to arrest the slide," said Rampersad.

West Indies are preparing to defend their World T20 title which begins next month in Bangladesh.

"If you want to look at the positive side of things, maybe you might want to say that the loss came at a right time and the players would pull up their socks after this embarrassing loss," said Rampersad.

"However, we have often said that a certain defeat came at the right time, so that the performances can only get better and it has not happened."

He has called for a major overhaul of regional cricket.

"We need to find a way to professionalise cricket in the region, so that the players that move up are coming in with right professional attitude".

--IANS/CMC

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