Lara slams CWI as stars flee to leagues
Brian Lara
West Indies cricket continues to spiral, having failed to qualify for the ICC World Cup 2023 and enduring a humiliating exit from the T20 World Cup on home soil. The most recent blow came when they were bowled out for just 27 runs against Australia — the second-lowest total in Test history — at Sabina Park.
Despite being known for their prowess in T20s, the Windies have struggled even in their favored format. A key reason has been the absence of star players, who have prioritized global franchise leagues over international duty.
Russell to retire from international cricket at home
16 Jul 25
Legendary cricketer Brian Lara recently criticized Cricket West Indies (CWI) following Nicholas Pooran’s early retirement, saying the board has failed to retain its top talents.
"You have a lot of guys who are deciding on what to do with their careers. You have your aggressive players like Pooran, who retired at 29. And honestly, it's pretty clear why they did. There are five or six leagues around the world, and they're able to make a substantial amount of money playing in them," said Brian Lara on a podcast named 'Stick to Cricket.'
"I have no problem with that. The truth is, I don't think the West Indies Cricket Board or the administration has done anything meaningful to keep players loyal to West Indies cricket, unlike what boards in countries like England, Australia, or even India have done," Lara added.
"So naturally, our players are going to look elsewhere. And when you see players like Kane Williamson or even South Africans making similar choices, you understand that these guys are just trying to provide for their families,” added the West Indies legend.
Mulder threatens Lara Test record before declaring
7 Jul 25
Pooran, who just led MI New York to their second Major League Cricket (MLC) title, has been a standout performer in franchise leagues and was retained for a whopping INR 21 crore in the IPL. He also scored a century in the latest MLC season.
Other global stars have followed suit: Heinrich Klaasen retired from South Africa to focus on leagues, Kane Williamson declined a central contract with New Zealand, and Andre Russell is set to retire from international cricket after the first two T20Is against Australia.
The trend signals a growing concern for international cricket boards, particularly in the Caribbean, where the talent pipeline is rich but national allegiance is fading fast.
