WIPA prez calls for support

KINGSTON: All West Indians have been urged by Dinanath Ramnarine, president of the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA), to come out and support the home team in the World Cup.

Speaking in the wake of back-to-back defeats for the West Indies in their first two Super Eight matches in Antigua & Barbuda, he called on Caribbean nationals to show their support for the West Indies team, as the hosts seek to advance to the semi-finals.

“The West Indies have some key matches coming up in Guyana, Grenada and Barbados and I would like to see a full house at all those games as we had in Jamaica. The crowd will be a vital 12th man for our team. The kind of support for which West Indian fans are renowned can be a huge motivating factor and it was in evidence for the games against Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland,” said Ramnarine.

“It is time for us to truly rally around the West Indies. They need us and we want them to win this World Cup at home.”

The West Indies face Sri Lanka in their third Super Eight match on Sunday and must win it to keep alive their chances in the tournament. “Sunday’s match at the Guyana National Stadium will be a huge occasion and the word is that the Guyanese public is coming out in heavy numbers to lift players’ spirits and propel them to victory,” Ramnarine said.