West Indies Cricket's Brutal Reality Exposed: Captain Roston Chase Reveals Financial Struggles After Crushing Defeat to India

West Indies captain Roston Chase laid bare the harsh truth about Caribbean cricket following his team's humiliating innings-and-140-run defeat to India in the first Test at Ahmedabad. In remarkably candid comments, Chase acknowledged that the region's "prolonged struggle with finances" is fundamentally undermining the team's ability to compete at international level, even as young players desperately want to succeed.

The Crushing Defeat That Sparked Truth-Telling

India dismantled West Indies inside three days at the Narendra Modi Stadium, bowling them out for 162 and 146 across two innings while declaring their own at 448/5. The margin of victory—an innings and 140 runs—represented another low point for a once-proud cricketing nation that dominated world cricket throughout the 1970s and 80s.

For Chase, appointed captain amid this turbulent period, the post-match press conference became a moment of unflinching honesty about systemic problems that no amount of individual effort can overcome.

"Yes, There Is Obviously a Struggle for Finances"

When questioned about Cricket West Indies' recent emergency meeting following the team's historic low of 27 all out against Australia in July, Chase—who serves on the CWI's cricket strategy and officiating committee—didn't shy away from uncomfortable truths.

"I don't really want to touch too much on that, but what I would say is yes, there is obviously a struggle in the Caribbean for finances. Whatever help we can get—if they are planning to get the help—I hope that we do get it so that we could strengthen the infrastructure for cricket."

His comments revealed what many had suspected but few officials had publicly acknowledged: West Indies cricket is starved of resources at every level, from grassroots development to elite training facilities.

Crumbling Infrastructure and Poor Training Facilities

Chase directly linked the team's chronic batting failures—they've managed to surpass 250 only once in their last 15 Test innings—to inadequate infrastructure back home.

"The systems in the Caribbean are a bit poor in terms of training facilities and stuff. But I'm not using that as an excuse or something to hide behind for the poor performances that we've been putting out lately. I still think the onus is on the players to find some way to turn up runs and wickets."

This balanced perspective—acknowledging systemic failures while refusing to completely absolve players of responsibility—reflects the impossible position Caribbean cricketers find themselves in. They're expected to compete with India, Australia, and England despite having fraction of the resources, facilities, and financial support those nations provide.

The Training Ground Reality

Chase elaborated on specific infrastructure problems that hamper player development:

"The surfaces in the Caribbean aren't particularly conducive for batsmen, which means players often don't bat for extended periods or accumulate large scores. Additionally, the outfields in the Caribbean tend to be quite slow. When you place the ball in the gaps, it can be challenging to run two. These are some of the issues we face in the Caribbean."

These aren't minor inconveniences—they're fundamental barriers to developing batsmen capable of surviving extended periods at international level. If domestic pitches don't prepare players for Test match conditions, and training facilities can't bridge that gap, failures like Ahmedabad become inevitable.

The Emergency Meeting: Legends Called to Action

The catastrophic 27 all-out against Australia in Kingston, Jamaica—just one run away from Test cricket's lowest-ever score—triggered an emergency response from Cricket West Indies. The board convened its cricket strategy and officiating committee in August, bringing together legends and current players to diagnose the crisis.

The committee includes:

• Sir Clive Lloyd (World Cup-winning captain of the 1970s-80s dynasty)

• Brian Lara (all-time great batsman and former captain)

• Shai Hope (current ODI/T20I captain)

• Roston Chase (Test captain)

• Ramnaresh Sarwan (former Test batsman)

• Daren Sammy (head coach and T20 World Cup-winning captain)

This group identified eight critical challenges facing West Indies cricket:

• Declining quality of regional tournaments

• Technical, tactical, and mental skills deficiencies

• Underperforming franchise system

• Gaps in infrastructure and facilities

• Lack of specialist coaching support

• Limited ICC revenue share and financial constraints

• Fragmented player development pathways

• Inadequate fitness and conditioning standards

The Financial Crunch Gets Worse

Just days before the India series began, Cricket West Indies CEO Chris Dehring announced even grimmer news: the organization will scale back tournaments and programs for the 2025-26 cycle simply because it cannot afford to fund regional cricket.

The under-17 tournament has been cancelled, domestic competitions will feature fewer matches, and the CWI academy may be withdrawn from premier tournaments. While player fees and retainers remain protected—CWI insists it won't cut player compensation—the infrastructure and development programs that build future stars are being gutted.

CWI receives between $100-120 million from the ICC in the current four-year cycle, far less than cricket powerhouses. With limited domestic revenue streams and a fragmented regional model spanning 15 island nations, financial sustainability remains elusive.

Players Want to Succeed—But Face Uphill Battle

Chase pushed back against any suggestion that his players lack desire or commitment, painting them instead as young professionals trying to build careers despite systemic obstacles.

"The guys are eager to play. The guys are young, they want to make a name for themselves. They want to make a living for themselves. I don't think that is a case where they come up there and not train or they don't want to do their best."

The problem, he explained, isn't effort—it's skill development and sustained excellence under pressure.

"But we have to improve our skill levels, and if the skill level is there, we're not doing it for long enough periods. In Test cricket, you have to do it for five days. If you just do it for maybe one day or two days, you're still not going to be on top or even in the game."

This speaks to the fundamental challenge: Test cricket demands technical excellence, mental toughness, and physical endurance sustained across five days. Without adequate domestic preparation, practice facilities, and coaching support, developing those qualities becomes nearly impossible.

The T20 Exodus Compounds Problems

While Chase didn't explicitly address it in Ahmedabad, the rise of lucrative T20 franchise leagues has devastated West Indies' player pool. Stars like Nicholas Pooran (retired from internationals at age 29), Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, and Chris Gayle prioritized IPL, CPL, and other T20 riches over national duty.

Financially, the choice is rational—franchise contracts often pay more in six weeks than West Indies central contracts provide annually. But it gutted Test cricket of talent, leaving a young, inexperienced squad to face India's world-class attack.

Can West Indies Cricket Be Resurrected?

When asked point-blank if resurrection was possible for Caribbean cricket, Chase's response reflected both pride and pragmatism.

"If I said no, I wouldn't be a true West Indian. We're down right now, but there have been times where we've been up and other teams have been down and they've risen. I would never say that a resurrection is not possible for us, but we are going to have to take some small steps and try to find our way back up the ladder."

This measured optimism acknowledges the scale of the challenge while refusing to surrender hope. History shows cricket nations can rebuild—Bangladesh and Afghanistan have improved dramatically in recent years—but it requires sustained investment, strategic planning, and time.

The Reform Plan: Will It Be Enough?

CWI's approved reform plan includes short-term actions for the next six months:

• Hiring an internationally experienced batting coach for all levels

• Appointing a full-time sports psychologist/performance coach

• Expediting capital projects at Coolidge Cricket Ground for modern training facilities

• Implementing Individual Development Plans for franchise teams

• Introducing a regional fitness leaderboard to monitor player conditioning

These are positive steps, but they require funding that CWI struggles to secure. The organization is caught in a vicious cycle: poor results reduce revenue and interest, limiting investment in development, which perpetuates poor results.

The Leadership Challenge

Chase defended his decision to bat first on a lively Ahmedabad pitch, noting that application—not the toss—determined the outcome.

"I don't think the decision was a bad decision. We saw the wicket, although it had a bit of moisture, we still thought that it was a good wicket to bat first. We didn't start well and we never really put any partnerships in place. We never really got back into the game."

As captain, he shoulders the responsibility of keeping spirits up despite repeated disappointments.

"As a captain it is my job to motivate the team. Irrespective of whatever position we may be in or what happened in the last game, it's my job and the coach's job to motivate those players and give them the best chance, or give them that confidence that we still believe in them, because it's still a team."

This speaks to the emotional toll of leading a team in crisis. Maintaining belief and effort when results consistently disappoint requires exceptional leadership—made harder when systemic problems beyond anyone's control continue undermining progress.