If a mere group match win could trigger such a celebration, one would expect the West Indies to go wild should they overcome the hurdle of Pakistan in what is effectively a quarter-final match at Mirpur today. But things may not be the same as they were after they beat Australia last week. West Indies captain Darren Sammy confirmed that they have not planned any big celebration, primarily because there is no emotion involved and secondarily because it is a hugely important game for both sides.
‘Cricket is played out there in the middle, like I always say. We have a good relationship with most of, if not all, the teams that we play against,’ said Sammy, explaining why they are not planning for another Gangnam Style show.
‘We always try to play the game in the true spirit that it should be played in, and if you noticed last year, in our Caribbean Premier League we had a lot of guys from Pakistan.
‘We have a good friendship with them, so we just hope at the end of the day it’s another cracker of a game, but West Indies come out victorious,’ he said.
West Indies revived the memory of their 2012 World Twenty20 win in Colombo, dancing to Gangnam Style after Sammy hit James Faulkner for two sixes in the final over to steal a six-wicket win, which later proved to be a knock-out punch.
Prior to the game, Faulkner had touched the ego of the West Indies, saying he does not particularly like the men from the Caribbean. Faulkner had a history with Chris Gayle, who led the celebration.
‘I got a few calls from home; it’s Lent season in the Caribbean and they were blaming the West Indies for having people drinking during Lent,’ said Sammy.
‘The people of the Caribbean really enjoyed the win. Everybody was aware of the build up towards the game.
It was an exciting match, a match where West Indies had to fight to come out on top,’ said Sammy.
Despite the celebration Sammy reminded all that they have yet to reach to the semis and that some more hard work needed to be done.
‘But they are also aware that we are not into the semis as well, and the message is just to go out and do well against Pakistan and make sure we get to the semis and take it from there.
‘Tomorrow is a very important match for both teams like it was against Australia last game, and hopefully we could repeat the same thing by winning,’ he said.
-With New Age input
