For the first time, two-time World Cup champions West Indies won't be featuring in a major World Cup (2023 World Cup) after their seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Scotland in the Super 6 stage of the ODI World Cup Qualifiers. (More Cricket News)
The Men from Caribbean could only muster two wins in the league stage of the qualifiers out of the given four. West Indies lost at the hands of Netherlands, Zimbabwe and now Scotland as they now look back on a tumultous qualifying campaign that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.
As the two-time world champions reflect on their heart-breaking campaign, West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder said that backing the young players in the team could change the fortunes of West Indies cricket in the coming years.
"It's (cricket) not an individual thing or a territorial thing. We've got to come together as a region... and really, really think about how we we want to go forward as a group and make it happen," said Jason Holder, one of the world's top all-rounders during the post-match press conference on Saturday.
"I don't think all is lost. There's a lot of young guys in the group who can definitely develop and turn things around for West Indies cricket. We've got a young crop of players and we've got to put some support around them. It's really important that we try to utilize time outside of competition and put things in place where we can develop our talent," Holder said at the post-match press conference.
"We have to look at the levels below and improve them so that when guys get here, they have a good foundation. It's an area we need to pay some special attention to. It's not a quick fix. It's something we need to spend time on. Development is the most important thing. Hopefully in the next couple of years, we can see the fruits of that crop," he added.
The tall 31-year-old cricketer added his team knew the importance of the contest against Scotland and had a real good chance, but couldn't cross the line in the end.
"We knew what was at stake and we still had a chance to qualify. We had a really good opportunity to play Scotland and beat them (but) we didn't do that. "This is probably one of the lowest points I've had with the team. But, you know, there are still a lot of positives. I was really happy for Nicholas Pooran, the way he played through this entire competition. And, it's good to see some of the younger guys get an opportunity on the big stage," he said.
