World T20 2016: How West Indies overcame no-jersey issue and pay dispute to become two-time champions

At a time when most cricket boards were supporting their respective teams to prepare for the ICC Men’s World T20 2016, the West Indies cricket team, were still overcoming their pay dispute with the board. 

In February 2016, a month before the start to the marquee tournament, the head of the region’s cricket board blatantly clarified that the West Indies players will be thrown off the squad for the World T20 if they do not agree to financial terms by the deadline. 

The stance from the board came soon after reports emerged that the 15-man squad for the marquee event were upset with the huge pay cut and subsequently rejected to sign their contract. 

Later that month, 12 players from the initial squad — Chris Gayle, (then) captain Darren Sammy, Sulieman Benn, Jason Holder, Andre Fletcher, Dwayne Bravo, Samuel Badree, Lendl Simmons, Jerome Taylor, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels and Denesh Ramdin — signed their respective contract with the board after the dispute was resolved but star players like Darren Bravo, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard opted out without citing any reason. 

It was, however, understood that Pollard pulled out of the squad due to an injury, Narine due to coming under scanner for suspect bowling action and Bravo wanted to focus on the longer format of the game. 

READ MORE: 2011 Cricket World Cup: How Mike Horn inspired India’s do-or-die mindset 

World T20 2016: Darren Sammy highlighted plight of the team

Four sixes in an over from Carlos Bathwaite in the final over might have helped the West Indies triumph over England to become two-time champions and most successful team in the shortest format on April 3, 2016 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata but the memories of the tough times were still fresh in the mind of their players. 

“People were wondering we would play this tournament, we had issues with the board, Mark Nicholas called us players with no brain. But all of us came together, these 15 men put adversity aside, play this type of cricket in front of such passionate fans. It was tremendous. I want to thank the coaching team, Phil Simmons,” Sammy said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

“Really happy for this win, it’s something we’ll cherish for a long time. We have a few match winners, nobody give us a chance, every game somebody stepped up – good to see Carlos play like that in his debut World Cup

“We had a new manager in this tournament in Rawl Lewis. He was doing the job for the first time. He came to Dubai and we know what he did so that we get the jerseys. We did not have the jerseys. Got to give credit to the entire team here. This is for all the fans in the Caribbean. President Mitchell (Keith Mitchell, President of Grenada) send us a inspiring message.” 

But far more, inspiringly, the West Indies team reportedly donated to the Mother Teresa Missionaries of charity in Kolkata after their triumph. And it could, perhaps, be called one of the greatest wins in cricketing history!