No coaching shake-up despite poor results, says Dr Shallow
With West Indies cricket under fire for its recent form, Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dr Kishore Shallow has made it clear there will be no immediate changes in leadership — particularly not to head coach Daren Sammy’s position. Speaking during an exclusive interview on iSPORTS 95.5FM on Thursday, Dr Shallow dismissed the notion that Sammy’s tenure is under threat following a series of disappointing results since his appointment in April.
“I don’t think that whether we win this series or not will be a result of the current composition of our selection system. It is not, because before each series if we go across and ask across the region if it is the correct squad chosen for the tour, most people will be in agreement, so clearly that is not the issue.”
Shallow’s comments come at a time when the team’s performances have drawn criticism from across the Caribbean, with fans and pundits questioning both player selections and coaching strategies. The West Indies’ recent series losses and inconsistent showings have intensified scrutiny, but the CWI president emphasized that selection decisions are being made with regional input and consensus, and therefore are not the root cause of the team’s struggles.
Defending the team’s preparation amid player absences, he added, “And even if a player is unavailable due to injury, you can’t blame a selector for that either and we are without two of our leading fast bowlers in the current Test series against New Zealand in Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph.”
Shallow was firm in his stance against emotional or short-sighted responses, saying, “So, we understand the issue and you won’t get a knee-jerk reaction from me, because I understand fully well what it takes for us to be successful consistently, but we have to address the fundamental deficiencies in our system which we haven’t done well over the years.”
Acknowledging poor form, but looking to the long term
Dr Shallow acknowledged the frustration around the region with the team’s continued struggles across all formats.
“We haven’t seen the sort of performances and I would be the very first to put up my hand and say I’m not pleased with the young team’s performance, but this isn’t anything new. We’ve been inconsistent at best with our performances, meaning we haven’t been doing well.”
He pointed out that even during rare moments of quality, the team has failed to build momentum: “Whenever we’ve been performing, and we see glimpses of brilliance we’ve been inconsistent in that case.”
His remarks reflect a broader frustration within the region, where repeated cycles of underperformance have eroded public confidence. Rather than placing blame on individual players or coaching staff, Shallow drew attention to long-standing structural issues — arguing that the decline of West Indies cricket is the result of decades of underinvestment and uneven development across territories.
Tracing the root of the problem well beyond current management or player selection, Dr Shallow added, “But it goes back about three decades now, so it is not new. I said from the very start that it is not an overnight fix for West Indies cricket…We are not going to produce the results that we are dying for, that we have been waiting for almost impatiently.”
Still, he remains optimistic: “We know our talent, and we’ve been here before where we have gained a little success that we believe that we can return there. I have no doubt that we can return there but it takes now the implementation of systems and infrastructure across the region and stabilising our financial situation.”
No plans to resign after entering Parliament
While his on-field stance was focused on stability, Dr Shallow also addressed rising speculation over whether he should continue as CWI president after his recent political victory.
As reported by Guardian Media Sports on Saturday, Dr Shallow has confirmed that he will not step down from his role as president of the board after being elected to the St Vincent and the Grenadines Parliament on November 27, 2025 and being appointed to incoming Prime Minister Godwin Friday’s cabinet as Minister of Tourism.
In response to concerns over dual responsibilities, Dr Shallow issued a video statement on the Windies Cricket YouTube page, clarifying that he will not seek re-election in the next CWI election cycle but intends to complete his current term.
He further stated that the board had conducted all necessary due diligence — legal, ethical, and procedural — and found no concerns regarding a conflict of interest. He also noted that the role of CWI president does not follow a conventional work schedule of 9 to 5 and pointed out that other members of the International Cricket Council also hold dual roles.
The next CWI elections are scheduled for 2027, by which time Dr Shallow plans to hand over the reins — but not before pushing for deep structural reforms in West Indies cricket.
