Daren Sammy, the head coach of the West Indies, has said that the team’s morale was negatively impacted by the 25% decrease in men’s player retainer costs that Cricket West Indies announced prior to the current ODI series against India. Sammy was open about the date and how it affected the players when he spoke on October 2, 2026, the eve of the third and final ODI.
Cricket West Indies declared that the wage reduction would take effect in October 2026 and last until September 2027. For the fiscal year that ended in September 2025, the board reported a net loss of US$28 million, and for the fiscal cycle that ends in September 2026, it projects an additional US$26 million loss. In an attempt to control the organization’s financial situation, a decrease in retainer fees was proposed.
The captain, who won the World Cup twice, spoke candidly about the issue. “As a professional, that’s not what you want to hear before a series,” Sammy said to reporters prior to the third ODI in New Chandigarh.
Daren Sammy respond to the pay cut announcement before the series
Regardless of the financial situation, Sammy claimed he attempted to refocus the players’ attention on the chance that a series against India afforded. Strong results against the top-ranked team should be seen by the team as an opportunity to develop individual and group worth, he said.
I argued there is no better time to play India before the pay reductions. You gain some leverage when you defeat the best team, both for West Indies as a whole and for yourself. Playing against India will benefit off in the long run. We do everything we can to include that. The players put their heads down, and I applaud that. Indeed, the outcome hasn’t gone [our way]. However, in some areas, we continue to get better,” Sammy continued.
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Sammy cited several batting performances as hopeful indicators even though the West Indies did not win the series. He emphasised that, in the first two ODIs, four batters had hit hundreds, which he saw as a significant sign of improvement. He also pointed out that the team had improved in their ability to rotate the strike against spin and their intent.
In the dressing room, we have discussed intent. Four of our batters have scored 100 runs in the last two games. It is beneficial to us. The former all-rounder stated, “The primary performance markers that we take are the rotation of strike and the purpose, especially against spin.
Sammy was certain, though, that the bowling section needed to improve its performance. As the West Indies prepare for the final ODI, the coach stated that consistency with the ball is still a top concern. However, we still need to figure out how to be disciplined in our lines, lengths, and strategies when the pitch isn’t actually helping the bowlers,” he said.
