CATEGORY:SPORTS
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By Wallace J.A (Inside Grenada correspondent)


OCTOBER 03, 2006 – West Indies cricket captain and batting maestro, Brian Lara, thinks that the West Indies have only themselves to blame for having to play a qualifying round of matches to get into the ICC Champions Trophy in India, albeit they are the defending champions.

The ICC Champions Trophy is cricket’s one-day international tournament, second in importance only to the World Cup. It is played every two years. The competition was first played in 1998 and was known as the ICC Knock-Out Tournament. In 2002, however, the name was changed to the ICC Champions Trophy. The monies generated from this tournament are used by the ICC for its developmental programs.

In 2004, the tournament was played in England. The West Indies was able to surprise almost everyone by making it through to the finals of the competition where they played against England. The English team had the added advantage of playing at home. In a remarkable show of bravery, commitment and brazenfaced determination, the West Indies, led by bowling all-rounder Ian Bradshaw and wicket-keeper batsman, Courtney Browne, defied the odds and secured a victory for the West Indies. The umpires offered the two batsmen light, but they refused it and literally batted into the nighttime to bring glory to the West Indies team and the millions of West Indian fans residing around the globe.

The West Indies, however, has had a dismal showing in international cricket since winning the ICC Champions trophy in 2004. The West Indian team is now ranked 7th in the LG ICC ODI rankings (September 24,2006), ahead of England, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Kenya. Because the Windies have slipped below the top six teams in world cricket, they are forced to play the qualifying round of matches.

West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh will play a round robin tournament commencing on October 7. The top two teams emerging from this round would move on to the ‘main’ competition. Brian Lara is confident that the West Indies will move on pass this round and get to defend their trophy.