Daily Times

NEW DELHI: It is after quite some time that there is a sense of expectation and excitement around the West Indian side that will go to the upcoming ICC World Cup and recent results have shown that they can be quite a difficult opposition to get past. Former captain Brian Lara believes that West Indies need to be consistent to make the semi-finals and says that they are the “surprise element” in the tournament which returns to the UK after two decades. “West Indies will have to play some consistent cricket. We’ve shown that we can beat England or India. We can beat any team on our day. But then we lose against Bangladesh or Afghanistan, and we let it all go away. So, that’s what West Indies have to avoid. I would love to see them get to the semi-finals,” Lara told the Times of India. “West Indies, over the last two T20 World Cups, have been the surprise element. They’ve always been up there in the opposing team’s mind. There have been too many elements joining the dots, gradually it’s happening. So, I don’t think any country walks into the game against West Indies anymore thinking it’s over before it starts.”