ICC World Cup 2019: Darren Sammy makes bizarre prediction, picks 8th ranked team as winner
Sammy’s claims come as a surprise as West Indies are currently ranked 8th in ICC ODI Rankings and haven’t been in the best of forms recently. They did manage to make it to the tri-series final in Ireland but were beaten comprehensively in the league stage by Bangladesh.
cricket Updated: May 17, 2019 21:49 ISTIn an eyebrow-raising statement, former captain Darren Sammy said West Indies will emerge as the winner of upcoming ICC World Cup 2019 in England.
The former West Indies all-rounder who led his side to two World T20 titles in 2012 and 2016, said West Indies would want to win the cup for Chris Gayle, who has already announced that the ODI World Cup will be his last tryst with international cricket.
“West Indies will win the World Cup. With Chris Gayle retiring, the ‘Universe Boss’ will want to leave with a bang. I just have a strong feeling,” said Sammy on ICC Cricket World Cup Preview show.
Sammy’s claims come as a surprise as West Indies are currently ranked 8th in ICC ODI Rankings and haven’t been in the best of forms recently. They did manage to make it to the tri-series final in Ireland but were beaten comprehensively in the league stage by Bangladesh.
Also Read:Imam-ul-Haq taken to hospital after being hit by Mark Wood short ball
Sammy, however, has an even bizarre logic behind his prediction. Terming himself a biblical man, Sammy said the number 40 comes up a lot of times in the Bible and hence he feels West Indies will win the cup.
‘It’s been 40 years since we last won the World Cup. I’m a biblical man and the number 40 comes up a lot in the bible… I think it’s our time to rise up,” said Sammy.
The West Indies last won the World Cup 40 years ago in 1979 and since then their best performance have been in the 1996 World Cup when they made it to the semi-finals.
Sammy said West Indies have bowlers who can be useful in English conditions. “I think man-for-man the batting line-up is really good. The key is to have bowlers who can take wickets in English conditions and I think we have that,” he said.
West Indies will start their World Cup 2019 campaign against Pakistan on May 31 at the Trent Bridge in Nottingham.
West Indies World Cup squad: Jason Holder (c), Andre Russell, Ashley Nurse, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo, Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen, Kemar Roach, Nicholas Pooran, Oshane Thomas, Shai Hope, Shannon Gabriel, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer
First Published: May 17, 2019 21:40 IST