Someone gave this response from another forum. What do you guys think?
" The british west indies was not only a conquered and colonized region but they were a british administrative unit that was centered in Trinidad.
the Bahamas, Bermuda were on their own in the atlantic. French Guiana is part of France..a department or province of the French nation.
when deh talk about the west indies they mean Jamaica, the Leewards, Windwards, Bim, Trinidad and Britsh Guiana or Demerara. that was the unit. so when cricket came about and these started to play each other it was a natural..the people of a region playing each other that evolved into a regional representative team that played against the world..in representation of the west indian people.
none of the others were part of the english unit..the Bahamas, Bermuda, French or the Dutch. that is why they are not a part of the established west indies cricket situation under the administration of the wicb..and ICC
the west indies are the english speaking unity. the caribbean constitutes the english unit bordering the Caribbean sea, plus Dutch/Spanish/French in the Caribbean. the Guiana/Guyana are out in the Atlantic. but British Guyana is culturally west indian.
the Bahamas is not caribbean but atlantic ocean Meridian 4 east by latitude north 45 degrees/Bermuda is 10 degrees or so north and west into the atlantic on a latitude with north africa..algeria or some such
these countries cannot legitimately be included in the west indies..but they enjoy an affinity with the west indies culturally and by ethnicity.
there is the recognition of the history and informal unitary nature of the english west indies that is a part of the ICC in cricket. the rest of the caribbean nations constitute an amalgam of independent nations, parts of nations and different languages that would require all manner of reconstitution to be included in the west indies for the purpose of cricket
it cant be done..particularly in the case of the dutch and french and Suriname. it would be easier for Bermuda, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Belize, with whom again there is a strong english/cultural/ethnic affinity with the west indies.
Suriname is an independent nation as far as I know. I don't see how they could ever become part of west indies cricket as an independent nation, despite that too are culturally and ethically very west indian. Holland plays cricket and there is a connection between Suriname and Holland that could make them inclusive of that Nations cricket by ICC standards...just like their soccer players can play for Holland
it is impossible for the french and the rest of the Dutch west indies also.
the Dutch Dots I believe also enjoy a national relationship with Holland like the French west indies do with french.
so there is no general logic based on history in the rest who are now associated with CARICOM to be part of the west indies make up. that is recent developments. the west indies have been playing cricket as an integrated unit for 150 years..since 1865.
the others were never a part of that, as a unity that was expected to become a nation. failed in an attempt. yet the expectation is that that the west indian nation will formalize itself again at some point
CARICOM is an association of nations for economic benefit, established on the principle that it is a precursor to anther formalization of the west indian nation. but is that changing with the association of nations who cannot become part of a west indian federation?
yet the west indies can become a nation and maintain economic cooperation with the associates in the formation and operation of a wider caribbean common market
for the Bahamas and Bermuda to become part of the cricket they would have to become part of a formalized west indian nation...Belize as well..much more than just CARICOM associates"
Suriname is an independent nation as far as I know. I don't see how they could ever become part of west indies cricket as an independent nation, despite that too are culturally and ethically very west indian. Holland plays cricket and there is a connection between Suriname and Holland that could make them inclusive of that Nations cricket by ICC standards...just like their soccer players can play for Holland
[/quote]
Ever since Columbus discovered the Americas at the end of the 15th Century, the region was known as The New World.
In many senses, the Americas represent a new world of opportunity for cricket, with exciting development possibilities :
from Canada in the north all the way to Argentina in the south.
Historically, the region has been associated with cricket as long as any other in the world, with the
first ever international match played contested between :
Canada and the United States on September 24-25, 1844.
In Latin America, cricket was introduced to Argentina as far back as 1806. Now, in the first years of the 21st Century, cricket is being taken to the New World of the Americas as a modern, dynamic and entertaining sport to play and watch.
This vast geographical region represents a virtually untapped source of future players and supporters. The region has an impressive pedigree in a variety of sports, and the objective is for cricket to become of the great sports of the Americas in the years ahead.
ICC Americas with the help of the WICB is dedicated to the development of cricket throughout the region and focused on bringing true meaning to the slogan "cricket without boundaries".
be serious ketchim. that poster is not wrong. you have not posted up anything that discredits that argument above.
Suriname can become world champions they are still an independent nation and their players cannot be drawn in to represent the english speaking west indies..a natural unit even since the british established themselves in the region.
the british west indies is a unit of long standing, that became such a cricket unit by 1865..organized themselves for international competition by the first english tour of 1906... which is why they are considered so by the ICC and the west indies team maintained by the ICC..despite them all being independent nations by international standards
the ICC can maintain the british west indies as a unit because of this shared history, because of a history that is national but for its official nationalist formalization, at which previous attempt had been made. the west indies will not be allowed to expand to include independent countries outside the formal west english west indian unit. how can they be?
then there is the obvious formulation: does any of the outside nations so considered and related want to join the west indies under the wicb for cricket::confused::
the ICC is always seeking cricket expansion...so it is natural for it to ask a senior cricket nation to help juniors in its immediate environs. that is not an invitation to cricket imperialism..but to assist a developing national game in a young cricket nation
[quote author=mapoui link=topic=95434.msg615627#msg615627 date=1422637082]
be serious. the poster is not wrong. you have not posted up anything that discredits the argument to which you refer.
[/quote]
I am referring to Suriname playing for Holland : as in Soccer as that forum poster mentioned.
"just like their soccer players can play for Holland"
