Legendary fast-bowler Curtly Ambrose has backed West Indies to win the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 saying they have enough talent to become the first team to win the mega event three times.
Having already clinched the World Cup in 2014 and 2016, the West Indies will have a great chance of adding one more trophy to their trophy cabinet as the tournament will be played on their home turf.
In the last two World Cups, the West Indies couldn’t enter the knockout stages but this will be their best chance as they have been in good form and also have series wins against India, South Africa and India in the last 14 matches at home.
Speaking at the launch of the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York earlier this week, Ambrose claimed that the West Indies have a very good team that can win the tournament by playing consistent and smart cricket.
"We have a very, very good team. As we speak they [West Indies players] are in Antigua at a camp preparing themselves for the start of the T20 World Cup which is a couple of weeks away,” Ambrose said as quoted by the ICC.
"I believe once the guys start playing consistent cricket and smart cricket, I believe we can take the trophy. It is not going to be easy, but we are one of only two nations to have won it twice so we are going to try and make it three. And no other nation has ever won it on home soil, so all that is motivation for the guys to do well and I am hoping they can do it."
The West Indies are in Group C alongside New Zealand, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and Uganda. Ambrose said that he will be rooting for his side to win the championship.
"I admire a lot of cricketers [at the T20 World Cup] and I am looking forward to them doing well. As a proud Antiguan and being from the West Indies, I want the West Indies to win,” he added.
“It is not going to be easy because in T20 cricket every team has an equal chance of beating any other team and that is just the nature of T20 cricket. It is going to be exciting, but I am going to be rooting for the West Indies."