Kolkata, April 3 (IANS) West Indies skipper Darren Sammy, on clinching the World Twenty20 title beating England, said there were a lot of critics who did not give his team any chance to win but his side filled with T20 match-winners proved them wrong to win the title for the second time.
This is the second World T20 title for West Indies, who had previously won it in 2012.
A late blitz from Carlos Brathwaite, with 34 off 10 balls, and a stupendous 85 not out from Marlon Samuels ensured West Indies grab a thrilling four-wicket victory at the Eden Gardens here on Sunday.
West Indies needed 19 runs off the last over and Brathwaite hit Ben Stokes for four massive sixes which took them home.
“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 here.
“Firstly, I want to thank the almighty. We have a pastor in the team in Andre Fletcher, we keep on praying. 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. Shows the T20 depth we have in the Caribbean, hopefully we will continue to improve,” he said.
“We had a new manager in this tournament. Got to give credit to the entire team here. This is for all the fans in the Caribbean. I don’t know when I’m going to be playing for West Indies again. I want to thank my team, thanks my coaching staff. This is for the champions!” the skipper added.