Internet Desk: West Indies cricket has produced many legendary cricketers like Sir Vivian Richards, Clive Lloyd, Sir Garfield Sobers, Gordon Greenidge, George Headley, Brian Lara, Malcolm Marshall, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Michael Holding, Courtney Walsh, Joel Garner and many more. Among these legends a few were the part of the invincible West Indies team who won the prestigious World Cup back to back in 1975 and 1979.
On their 91st anniversary the West Indies cricket board has renamed the board as Cricket West Indies from West Indies Cricket board. In a media release the board has said that from now on the team will be known as the ‘WINDIES.’
The release also quoted the board’s CEO Johnny Graves as saying that the name Cricket West Indies “better reflects how the organization operates.” “There are many different stakeholders who we work in partnership with, under the unifying aim of improving cricket at all levels within the region,” said Graves, “We plan to work even more closely with them over the next few years and consultation will begin immediately as we develop a new strategic plan for 2018-2023.”
The format of the Champions Trophy has changed several times since its inception in 1998 and the 2013 edition was even slated to be its last.
It was due to be replaced by the ICC World Test Championship only for the ICC to reverse the decision and introduce a new, streamlined format.
The number of teams though remained the same, with the top eight teams sides in the ICC ODI Rankings automatically qualifying.
The rise of Bangladesh, now fifth in the world in ODIs, meant one of the major powers was always likely to miss out, with Pakistan, Sri Lanka and West Indies all below the Asian underdogs.
And when the cut-off date came six months before the Champions Trophy's commencement, West Indies found themselves adrift in ninth place, only just ahead of Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.
The team have never missed a Champions Trophy while their absence sees Bangladesh return for the first time since 2006.
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