The West Indies may not have won a game against the big guns yet but are hoping to improve on that record in the first quarterfinal against Pakistan. "It's a do-or-die match," their skipper Darren Sammy said on Tuesday.
"The good thing is that this is the ground where we executed our plans perfectly, so it's good to be back here." Sammy was referring to the game in which his bowlers dismissed Bangladesh for a paltry 58 in a league game.
Sammy is also upbeat that the fitness levels of two crucial players - Chris Gayle and Kemar Roach - don't seem to be an issue any longer. "Both Gayle and Roach participated in our practice today. Roach bowled, Gayle batted and I liked the way they looked. "I know we'll be able to come out with the best combination to win us the quarterfinal. On Wednesday, we'll know the outcome. I know Chris is a very committed fellow and will do whatever it takes to be in a position to win. So come tomorrow I have no doubt he'll do the best that is required," Sammy said.
When TOI spoke to Gayle, he too sounded optimistic. "I'm certainly hopeful of playing the match. It's an important game and we are ready," Gayle said.
So what went wrong with the team during those big matches against South Africa, England and India? Sammy merely smiled and said: "I need some help explaining that. We just crumbled. We lost our way.
"Like I said then, we can't keep losing wickets in patches like that. But that said, we keep finding ourselves in positions where we can win matches. I think in the quarterfinal stage we must grab the opportunity we get."
"The good thing is that this is the ground where we executed our plans perfectly, so it's good to be back here." Sammy was referring to the game in which his bowlers dismissed Bangladesh for a paltry 58 in a league game.
Sammy is also upbeat that the fitness levels of two crucial players - Chris Gayle and Kemar Roach - don't seem to be an issue any longer. "Both Gayle and Roach participated in our practice today. Roach bowled, Gayle batted and I liked the way they looked. "I know we'll be able to come out with the best combination to win us the quarterfinal. On Wednesday, we'll know the outcome. I know Chris is a very committed fellow and will do whatever it takes to be in a position to win. So come tomorrow I have no doubt he'll do the best that is required," Sammy said.
When TOI spoke to Gayle, he too sounded optimistic. "I'm certainly hopeful of playing the match. It's an important game and we are ready," Gayle said.
So what went wrong with the team during those big matches against South Africa, England and India? Sammy merely smiled and said: "I need some help explaining that. We just crumbled. We lost our way.
"Like I said then, we can't keep losing wickets in patches like that. But that said, we keep finding ourselves in positions where we can win matches. I think in the quarterfinal stage we must grab the opportunity we get."
