DHAKA – Struggling West Indies will be boosted by the return of star batsman Chris Gayle and pace spearhead Kemar Roach for the World Cup quarter-final against Pakistan on Wednesday. The duo missed the last league match against India in Chennai on Sunday with Gayle resting an abdominal strain and Roach feeling unwell due to viral fever and a stomach infection.
Skipper Darren Sammy said both Gayle and Roach worked out in the nets at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium on Tuesday and expected them to report fully fit for the quarter-final. “I liked the way Chris was hitting balls in the nets,” said Sammy. “He is very committed to the West Indies cause. Come tomorrow, and I have not doubt both he and Kemar will play.”
Sammy would not confirm if fast bowler Ravi Rampaul, who took five wickets against India in his first appearance in this tournament, will be retained if Roach returns to the side. “We will assess the conditions and discuss it amongst ourselves before finalising the team,” he said. “We will put out the best possible team which can deal with the conditions.”
Richardson balm for bruised Windies: Struggling West Indies need look no further than their manager Richie Richardson for inspiration when they clash with buoyant Pakistan in the World Cup quarter-final Wednesday. Richardson was captain when the West Indies overturned the form book in the 1996 quarter-final in Karachi and stunned South Africa, who had come through the league phase unbeaten.
Brian Lara smashed 111 off 94 balls to fashion a 19-run victory and a similar effort from Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo or Kieron Pollard could upset Pakistan’s applecart. “Anything can happen in the knock-outs, you don’t get a second chance,” said the 49-year-old Richardson, who took over as manager for a two-year term in January. “Every one starts on an equal footing.”
Darren Sammy’s men will need a desperate last fling at a time when they seem to be falling apart after two inexplicabe defeats against England and India from dominant positions. They were on the brink of victory against England when, chasing a modest target of 244, they were comfortably placed at 222-6 before losing their last four wickets for three runs.
Against India on Sunday, they caved in again as eight wickets fell for 34 runs after they were 154-2 and lost by 80 runs. The West Indies, who have now lost 18 successive matches against the leading nations, cannot afford another defeat. All is, however, not over yet for the West Indies.
