ApurbSSJ
Core Member
In a private members club in the salubrious environs of London's hip and happening West End, it was announced that the Caribbean Premier League's last team that was still owned centrally had been sold. The new franchisee of the St Lucia Zouks is American based businessman Jignesh Pandya who owns a real estate venture based in Philadelphia. Pandya has an Indian background and grew up playing street cricket in Mumbai. He says it is the perfect fit.
Darren Sammy, the erstwhile captain of the World T20 winning West Indies team is also the man that captains the Zouks, agreed with that and said he was delighted at the prospect of having an owner for his home team.
"It is very positive. They say good things come to those that wait. I think it is a good partnership, I met Mr Pandya for the first time and when he walked in the room I could just feel the positive energy he brings.
"Any successful businessman must have a good model and a good work ethic. And it is the same in cricket, you must be dedicated in your field, and wanting to work hard to bring you success. For us cricketers and for our country St Lucia, if he can bring those sort of investments and to create the jobs are young people are crying for it is going to be massive."
While Sammy was delighted with the investment in the Zouks and in St Lucia there has been disappointment for him in 2016. From the high of the World T20 victory in India to being sacked as captain, it has been a year of big ups and big downs. Sammy says he will not let others bring down his mood after that victory in India even after his removal and that of coach Phil Simmons.
"I am still on a high, I refuse to let people to dictate my mood. That has always been my strongest asset. It is disappointing, to win a World Cup and you have not played international cricket [since]. To remove the winning the World Cup coach, it is just as a mess."
Speaking of Simmons departure, Sammy says it was not a shock to hear the news of his sacking.
"It was disappointing but I wasn't surprised. It has been a trend of how my former employers operate. It was sad, you could see. They will say it did not have an effect on the team, but you could see the players, the pictures that were being posted on social media, I could tell my team was not in a happy mood. West Indians are known for expressions, especially when they smile. You could see from the expressions that were coming through from the media.
"I could tell that because I have been part of that set up. It is sad, the current situation is very sad, but it is something that I am at peace with. I just hope that our youngsters, we don't burden them by the decision making on top. You have two young captains in Jason Holder and Carlos Brathwaite, and they must be under some serious pressure, because I have been though it and it is not an easy job. But hopefully some better decisions will be made and the one format that we are able to put smiles on people's faces is the T20 format."
Recently, Keiron Pollard has also been left out of the touring side to Zimbabwe and Dwayne Bravo has also been omitted from West Indies squads. Sammy sighs when asked about Pollard's recent non-selection. For a rare moment his almost ever-present beaming grin disappears. But he insists he has moved on.
"It is what it is, honestly, I am at peace. I am not about fighting it anymore. I am just focused on where ever my services are needed, right now that is franchise cricket. Since I was sacked, I have come [to the UK] and captained a World XI in a charity game. I have been named captain of Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League. I am going to the Bangladesh Premier League, I am captaining Rajshahi Kings, I am still captain of the St Lucia Zouks. I refuse to let them take away what I could do on a cricket field and I am still enjoying playing cricket on the whole - whether that be for franchises, and like I said I am not retired, I am still available for selection if [West Indies Cricket Board] see it fit."
When the World T20 was won Sammy used the trophy presentation as an opportunity to set out his grievances with the West Indies Cricket Board, and he was criticised for it. The International Cricket Council issued a press release condemning Sammy's words. When asked if he regrets saying what he says that broad grin returns.
"Put that me on that podium again and I will do it even better. I believe a man has to speak his heart, it was emotional but a very proud moment for me. I have always been one who has been calm and just absorbed. I have absorbed a lot of pressure. It was just an extension of what my team went through flowing through me. And if I have to do it again I will do it better."
St Lucia Zouks sold to Philadelphia-based businessman | Cricbuzz.com
Darren Sammy, the erstwhile captain of the World T20 winning West Indies team is also the man that captains the Zouks, agreed with that and said he was delighted at the prospect of having an owner for his home team.
"It is very positive. They say good things come to those that wait. I think it is a good partnership, I met Mr Pandya for the first time and when he walked in the room I could just feel the positive energy he brings.
"Any successful businessman must have a good model and a good work ethic. And it is the same in cricket, you must be dedicated in your field, and wanting to work hard to bring you success. For us cricketers and for our country St Lucia, if he can bring those sort of investments and to create the jobs are young people are crying for it is going to be massive."
While Sammy was delighted with the investment in the Zouks and in St Lucia there has been disappointment for him in 2016. From the high of the World T20 victory in India to being sacked as captain, it has been a year of big ups and big downs. Sammy says he will not let others bring down his mood after that victory in India even after his removal and that of coach Phil Simmons.
"I am still on a high, I refuse to let people to dictate my mood. That has always been my strongest asset. It is disappointing, to win a World Cup and you have not played international cricket [since]. To remove the winning the World Cup coach, it is just as a mess."
Speaking of Simmons departure, Sammy says it was not a shock to hear the news of his sacking.
"It was disappointing but I wasn't surprised. It has been a trend of how my former employers operate. It was sad, you could see. They will say it did not have an effect on the team, but you could see the players, the pictures that were being posted on social media, I could tell my team was not in a happy mood. West Indians are known for expressions, especially when they smile. You could see from the expressions that were coming through from the media.
"I could tell that because I have been part of that set up. It is sad, the current situation is very sad, but it is something that I am at peace with. I just hope that our youngsters, we don't burden them by the decision making on top. You have two young captains in Jason Holder and Carlos Brathwaite, and they must be under some serious pressure, because I have been though it and it is not an easy job. But hopefully some better decisions will be made and the one format that we are able to put smiles on people's faces is the T20 format."
Recently, Keiron Pollard has also been left out of the touring side to Zimbabwe and Dwayne Bravo has also been omitted from West Indies squads. Sammy sighs when asked about Pollard's recent non-selection. For a rare moment his almost ever-present beaming grin disappears. But he insists he has moved on.
"It is what it is, honestly, I am at peace. I am not about fighting it anymore. I am just focused on where ever my services are needed, right now that is franchise cricket. Since I was sacked, I have come [to the UK] and captained a World XI in a charity game. I have been named captain of Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League. I am going to the Bangladesh Premier League, I am captaining Rajshahi Kings, I am still captain of the St Lucia Zouks. I refuse to let them take away what I could do on a cricket field and I am still enjoying playing cricket on the whole - whether that be for franchises, and like I said I am not retired, I am still available for selection if [West Indies Cricket Board] see it fit."
When the World T20 was won Sammy used the trophy presentation as an opportunity to set out his grievances with the West Indies Cricket Board, and he was criticised for it. The International Cricket Council issued a press release condemning Sammy's words. When asked if he regrets saying what he says that broad grin returns.
"Put that me on that podium again and I will do it even better. I believe a man has to speak his heart, it was emotional but a very proud moment for me. I have always been one who has been calm and just absorbed. I have absorbed a lot of pressure. It was just an extension of what my team went through flowing through me. And if I have to do it again I will do it better."
St Lucia Zouks sold to Philadelphia-based businessman | Cricbuzz.com
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