Mumbai: Few of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) officials believe that their male players were “over jubilant” while expressing their joy after winning the World T20 (against England) at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Sunday.
“Many of the team members removed their shirts and few players also threw at the spectators. This (removing shirt) was definitely the “uncivilised manner,” one of the officials of the St Lucia Cricket Association said on condition of anonymity.
Interestingly, the captain of the West Indies team, Darren Sammy, also belongs to this island. “The act of the cricketers was unusual. In Caribbean islands, football players do this but it was unexpected from Sammy’s boys,” he said.
“Thank God the women players didn’t go to such extent. The girls are level-headed. It would have been embarrassing otherwise,” the official added.
India’s Sourav Ganguly too had removed his shirt earlier, on the balcony of the Lord’s cricket ground after defeating England in a triangular series final in 2002. He also wanted other players to follow suit but was politely refused by Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.
Rudi Webster, who has worked with the Windies players as their psychologist in the past, and Dave Cameron, the Windies cricket board president refused to comment on current players’ attitude. However, the players are likely to be addressed on this subject.
“The players may have done this (going topless) in excitement. We shall address this issue with them,” Julian Charles, president of the St Lucia Cricket Association, told this correspondent.
The 55-year-old Charles, who is also chairman of the Cricket Committee of the West Indies Cricket board, has played 48 first class matches for Windward Islands.
