Source: Daily Express
Legendary West Indies cricketer Brian Lara has called for a broader strategy to address the deep-rooted issues affecting West Indies cricket, stressing that the sport’s challenges go well beyond on-field performances.
Speaking after the recent Cricket West Indies (CWI) conference at the Hyatt, Lara described it as “an honour to be called upon to contribute to the future of West Indies cricket, particularly at a time as pivotal as this.”
He added, “I do not take lightly the responsibility of offering whatever insight or assistance I can. The opportunity to serve is something I embrace wholeheartedly, and I remain committed to the cause.”
Lara singled out recent greats Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, and Kieron Pollard as voices that should be brought into the conversation.
“These men have not only played at the highest level, but have done so in an era that reflects the modern athlete’s psyche, ambitions, and motivations,” he explained.
“Their proximity to today’s players—in terms of generational alignment and shared dressing rooms—gives them an authentic understanding of what drives, distracts, or disillusions the modern West Indian cricketer.”
For Lara, the discussion must go beyond the technical. “I am sure this wasn’t intended to be merely a conversation about tactics or selection. It is about understanding mindset—how today’s players think, what they value, and what truly motivates them. From all appearances, it is this very motivation that seems to be lacking most.”
He believes figures like Gayle, Bravo, Pollard, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell “through their own journeys across global franchise circuits and in service to West Indies cricket, are exceptionally well-positioned to offer that clarity” on player motivation and mentality.
But Lara was forthright in his belief that the moment called for a more expansive and inclusive approach.” He argued that the region’s cricketing struggles “extend far beyond inconsistent performances on the field” and are “deeply rooted in cultural, psychological, and structural shifts that have evolved over the past two decades.”
“If we are truly committed to reversing this decline,” he said, “then we must be prepared to draw from a wider pool of lived experience and contemporary insight.”
“If we are to build a lasting solution—one that reconnects performance with purpose—we must engage all those who carry relevant insight,” Lara urged.
“This is a moment for collective wisdom, not isolated intervention. The deeper the bench of experience we draw from, the more equipped we will be to tackle the structural and psychological challenges that continue to plague the regional game.”
Lara concluded with a rallying call: “The time to act is now, but we must act together.”
