Cricket World Cup 2015: Darren Sammy hits back at West Indies critics

FORMER West Indies captain Darren Sammy says those predicting the end is nigh for cricket in his region are people “who have been paid to talk.”

West Indies Darren Sammy and Andre Russell celebrates Russell's catch to dismiss Kyle Coetzer for 96 during West Indies v Scotland ICC Cricket World Cup warm up match at the SCG. pic. Phil Hillyard

THE West Indies have a lot of critics this World Cup, and many believe the once mighty calypso kings could be ripe for the picking against minnows Ireland on Monday in Nelson.

It’s not an unreasonable opinion to take, given the dysfunctional Windies only escaped with a three-run win over Scotland in a warm-up match.

But West Indies star Darren Sammy says those doing the nay saying are people “who have been paid to talk.”

The players, Sammy says, are paid not to listen.

Of course the irony of that statement is the WICB doesn’t have the greatest track record for renumerating their stars.

Pay disputes are the primary reason why the West Indies are in such a mess heading into their tournament-opening clash against Ireland – a team energised by belief after knocking off England four years ago.

Darren Sammy is hoping to put a positive vibe back into Windies cricket.

The boys from the Caribbean have won just once from their last seven outings, and that doesn’t exclude the two occasions in that time when they pulled out of matches against India.

In last year’s World Twenty20, Australian star James Faulkner taunted the Windies, only for Chris Gayle and Sammy to fire into action.

Sammy says the West Indies are a team that need to feed off something, and he believes the muddling underdogs have motivation to prove their doubters wrong again.

“Nobody gives us a chance but that’s the people who have been paid to talk,” he said.

“We’ve been paid to play and we believe we can have an impact on this tournament and go far.

“If someone talks up … it will fire the boys up in the dressing room.

“When West Indies is fired up we’ve seen what we can be like.

“Somebody needs to do that and see what happens after.

“You get out of the group rounds and you have two knockout matches and you’re in a World Cup final.”