We have a good chance of winning CPL: Sammy

THE GOAN NETWORK | AUGUST 28, 2020, 04:00 AM IST
We have a good chance of winning CPL: Sammy



PANAJI

Former West Indies captain Daren Sammy is confident that his team St. Lucia Zouks will put up a good show in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The 36-year-old Sammy will lead the Zouks in the CPL and spoke about different topics in an interview. Here are the excerpts of the interview.


Q: You’ve been with St. Lucia Zouks since the first edition of CPL in 2013. What are your views on the team’s winning chances this year? 


Daren Sammy: According to me, our chances are as good as anybody else. Our ultimate goal when we go out on the cricket field is to win matches. I can tell you one thing that I love the look of my team and also the management and the coaching staff we have. I appreciate the way my players buy into the method or the process that we have to take to win the cricket matches. So far, the tournament has started on a very good line and everyone could see a change in the way we play. A lot of planning has gone into our discussions on preparations and we don’t have big names in the team but we have the effectiveness and I like this quality of our team.

Q: This year the matches are being played in Trinidad & Tobago behind closed doors. Do you think as a player, the absence of fans and well-wishers can impact the performance? 

DS: The Caribbean crowd is different compared to anywhere in the world. To be playing without the presence of cricket fans it would be a big loss. I think cricket needs to be back and the authorities are taking the safety measures to ensure we all play in a safe environment. In the wake of the pandemic, I think right now that’s the best way to have cricket back in the world of sports. The fans can cheer us from the safety of their homes.

Q: Unlike the other squads, there aren’t too many big stars in your team this season – how do you see that working out for your side?

DS: For my team, I think young men are eager to showcase their talents. Yes, I agree, there are no superstars in our team but the way we all have gelled together off the field, it plays a big part in our on-ground co-ordination. According to me, when you have young talented players looking to make a name for yourself and motivated to play in the CPL that time we could channel all that energy towards our game. We’ll be forced to record within this tournament. 

Q: How do you compare the competition levels of CPL and IPL?

DS: Both the premier leagues are equally special. On one hand, IPL has set the tone for all the leagues to follow whereas CPL is the most exciting one. Also, in terms of the atmosphere in which we play in the Caribbean, I don’t think any cricketer wouldn’t want to tour experience of that life. The CPL game is like a festivity in itself and the level of entertainment that these matches and our cricketers provide, it is incomparable.

Q: As a captain, do you think that high-level performance is the only way to gain trust in the dressing room?

DS: It is not the same for everyone. For any team member, whether you are a captain or not, you should be able to do perform and gain trust. One must contribute to their performance. Sometimes the situations are better as a leader. If you are among the top of the performance chart, you can start talking about what the teams need to do and they will listen. But with that said, I will not let the lack of performances that are there to take me away from the game or to deter me from speaking about the team goals and the values that will help the team go out and win matches.


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