Lloyd Says Sammy Needs More Help in West Indies Coaching Role

Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd has called on Cricket West Indies (CWI) to provide additional support for head coach Daren Sammy, saying the job is too demanding for one person to handle alone.

Lloyd, widely regarded as the most successful captain in West Indies history, led the team during its dominant era and guided them to back-to-back titles at the Cricket World Cup in 1975 and 1979. The 81-year-old believes Sammy—who took over as head coach across all formats last April—should be supported by other experienced figures from across the Caribbean.

Sammy himself is one of the most accomplished leaders in modern West Indies cricket. The Saint Lucia native famously captained the regional side to two ICC Men’s T20 World Cup titles in 2012 and 2016, making him the only captain to win the tournament twice. After retiring from international cricket, he moved into coaching and administration, eventually being appointed to lead the West Indies men’s team in all formats.

While acknowledging that the West Indies delivered a respectable performance at the most recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the Super Eight stage, Lloyd said Sammy’s future will ultimately depend on results.

Speaking in a recent interview on i95.5 FM, Lloyd noted that the decision rests with CWI.

“It’s entirely up to the board. Coaching is performance-based—if the results are good, you stay, and if they’re not, questions will be asked,” Lloyd said.

However, he emphasized that Sammy should have a broader support system in place.

“I would still like to see him getting help from other people—guys who understand the game,” Lloyd explained. “Because if the team doesn’t do well, he alone will take the criticism.”

Lloyd also pointed out that managing a team representing multiple Caribbean territories adds another layer of complexity.

“We have 14 islands to represent, so there are many expectations,” he said. “That’s why he needs assistance, because when results don’t go your way, people will want someone to blame.