Sammy Admits West Indies Weaknesses, Not the Pitch, Behind Series Defeat

The black, turning surfaces of Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla Stadium have long drawn criticism toward Bangladesh cricket. But West Indies head coach Darren Sammy refused to blame the pitch for his team’s failure. Speaking after the series loss, the former World T20-winning captain admitted that it was not the wicket, but his side’s own shortcomings that led to their downfall.

“Everyone knows that when you come to Bangladesh, the spinners’ eyes light up. They know the conditions will help them execute their plans,” said Sammy. “But what we showed in the last three matches was poor and inconsistent. In all three games, we allowed Bangladesh extra runs. It was a 3.5-runs-per-over wicket, but we gave them four runs an over every time.”

The coach also conceded that his batters failed to handle pressure.

“With the bat, when challenges came, we crumbled. Overall, we are very disappointed. Bangladesh played really well — credit to them. In all departments — batting, bowling, and fielding — they outplayed us. They fully deserved to win.”

After missing the 2023 World Cup, West Indies are desperate to qualify directly for the 2027 edition. But Sammy acknowledged that this series defeat has disrupted their plans.

“It’s all about mindset,” he explained. “This series was very important for us. Both teams knew the risks in the conditions, but we couldn’t show the right mentality. Inside the dressing room, the players were reminded that this wasn’t just a series — it was a test for us. But our batters didn’t show enough courage. Bangladesh’s batters were positive from the start and took control in the powerplay. We responded too late. With the ball, we lacked consistency; with the bat, resistance.”

Sammy refused to use the pitch as an excuse, emphasizing adaptability as the key difference between the two sides.

“Yes, the wicket was unfamiliar to us. But it’s not like one team played on a different surface. Both teams faced the same conditions — and that’s where you see who adapts better. Bangladesh clearly did. In the first two games, they understood when to accelerate. In the final ten overs, they pushed the scoring and made the difference. Their spinners were spot-on, always bowling in the right areas. They understood the surface far better than we did.”

Accepting responsibility for the defeat, Sammy concluded that success ultimately depends on preparation, adaptability, and consistency.