West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has urged players to improve their performances against Bangladesh, highlighting World Test Championship incentives and the need to attract sponsors. The two-match series offers the Caribbean side an opportunity to strengthen its standing.
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has challenged his Test players to deliver strong performances against Bangladesh, stressing that success on the field could help the team secure better financial rewards, attract sponsors and strengthen the position of West Indies cricket.
The two-match Test series against Bangladesh, beginning on Wednesday, represents the final assignment for the Caribbean side in the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Sammy believes the team has an opportunity to improve its standing in the competition, with additional financial incentives available to sides finishing in the top five.
The comments come after Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced a 25 per cent reduction in players’ retainer fees last month as part of measures to address the board’s financial, developmental and competitive challenges.
Despite the pay cuts, Sammy said the players had maintained their determination and commitment. He pointed to the performances of the West Indies white-ball teams during their recent tour of India as evidence that the players remained motivated to help revive the team’s fortunes.
According to Sammy, the players understand the financial difficulties facing the board, but their immediate focus remains on producing results. He encouraged the Test squad to use the WTC campaign as an opportunity to improve the team’s competitive position and create stronger prospects for future negotiations and sponsorship deals.
Sammy highlighted the financial incentives associated with the World Test Championship, noting that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had invested significant prize money in the competition. He urged the players to aim for a top-five finish, which could provide additional rewards.
West Indies finished eighth in each of the previous two WTC cycles. Sammy said the current campaign offered the team an opportunity to move higher in the standings and demonstrate tangible progress in Test cricket.
He added that strong performances would be essential not only for results but also for improving the team’s ability to attract commercial partners. Sammy believes consistent displays on the field can help restore confidence in West Indies cricket and create a stronger financial foundation for the future.
The Caribbean side enters the Bangladesh series unbeaten in Test series during the current calendar year. West Indies defeated Sri Lanka 1-0 before drawing their series against Pakistan 1-1, results that Sammy considers encouraging signs of improvement.
The coach acknowledged that expectations remain high but said the team’s recent performances have provided reasons for optimism. With the WTC cycle nearing its conclusion, he has urged the players to make the most of their remaining opportunities.
Sammy described the upcoming series as particularly important, pointing out that the team has only ten possible days of Test cricket remaining in the current cycle. He encouraged the players to give their maximum effort and use whatever motivates them to produce match-winning performances.
Preparation has also been a key focus for the West Indies squad ahead of the Bangladesh Tests. Sammy praised the team’s preparatory camp in Chennai, which was organised to provide players with suitable training facilities and improve their readiness for the series.
He said the board had made efforts to give the players the best possible preparation environment. The camp benefited from the involvement of the batting coach and assistance from Sriram Krishnamurthy of the Chennai Academy, with the academy’s director approving the arrangements.
Sammy expressed satisfaction with the squad’s preparation and said the training camp had helped the players approach the Bangladesh assignment in good condition. He stressed that effective preparation must now translate into performances when the team takes the field.
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The coach’s message ahead of the series is clear: improved results are central to the future of West Indies cricket. Strong performances against Bangladesh could strengthen the team’s WTC position, offer a pathway towards additional financial incentives and help demonstrate that the side is moving in the right direction.
For West Indies, the series is therefore about more than winning matches. It is also an opportunity to build momentum, improve competitiveness and reinforce the value of consistent performances in securing greater financial stability for players and the wider cricketing system.
