West Indies team manager Lennox John 28k | 56k West Indies press conference 28k | 56k Pakistan press conference 28k | 56k

Pakistan's Manager, Brig. Munawar Ahmed Rana and the West Indies Manager, Lennox John, both confirmed what most of the probably four thousand crowd at Lords Cricket Ground on Thursday, last, August 10, already knew. Both teams, all 22 players on the field of play for the Costcutter Under 15 final, were already winners, regardless of which team actually won the final. That the West Indies won the game, and the Under 15 World Cup series, sponsored by Costcutter, was a bonus to them, of course, and should be taken as a fillip for the region's future.

Gus Logie, the former Trinidad & Tobago captain and West Indies Test batsman, and Coach of the present West Indies Under 15 team, as close to tears as I have ever seen him in the over twenty years of our friendship and international cricket, was even more adamant that the players in his charge had shown great determination to get to the final, not to mention maturity and class. He was not only pleased that they had won the series, but was extremely proud of both their on and off the field activities, presence and carriage. What a very impressive lot these West Indians were, wearing their blazers with pride as they attended the 3rd Test match at Old Trafford just in time to see another West Indian hero, Brian Lara, get that tremendous century there last week.

Take it from me, and I have Tony Becca, the revered Sports Editor of the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper, and Michael Holding, doing commentary for Sky Television Broadcasting, the only other Sports Journalists from the Caribbean to see this final at Lords, to support me here. This was just a wonderful game of cricket as played by some truly clean-cut, ambitious, wonderful young men, on both teams, enjoying every minute of their presence at Lords.

The Pakistani Coach, Masood Anwar Ahmed, whom I had played against, and who has been involved with his charges for over eight years of continuous involvement, also gave the impression, at the end of the game, that he had been crying, perhaps because he thought that his team should have won the game, so close it was in the end, but perhaps just sharing the feeling of pride and pleasure of his team that they had gotten so far. He too was extremely buoyant about his team, justifiably so, as he saw them fight to the end in a wonderful game of cricket to culminate a great competition.

The so-called sports media in the Caribbean, especially the Caribbean News Agency (CANA) and the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), charged with supposedly propagating sports for the people of the Caribbean, should be thoroughly embarrassed, utterly ashamed and should be properly chided at their inability to take this game "live" and air it around the Caribbean.

Here is the Caribbean, and its population, continuously complaining that they do not get enough cricket on radio and/or television to encourage the youths to play the game, yet a final is being played, at Lords, no less, with the West Indies Under 15 team as one of the combatants, and there is no "live" coverage for the Caribbean. Is it any wonder that every other sport is trying to get a foothold? That, in my mind, is tremendously shameful!

I even asked Chris Dehring, the Chief Marketing Executive of the West Indies Cricket Board, who was present at the game, as to why this was so. His exact words were; "Boy, I cannot believe that neither of them (CANA or CBU) wanted to have this game "live." This has been a tremendous game, and I will be taking the highlights back home with me for the electronic media." That might be acceptable to some. To me, it was an insult to the young players and the WICB.

Pakistan Radio and its journalists were very present and the commentary was done, ball for ball. What a credit to Pakistan and their interest in cricket that was. Sky Television provided all of the pictures, "live", BBC Radio-5-Live carried running reports and commentary, while the English and Wales Cricket Board on-line site, powered by Cric Info. com, (www.ecb.co.uk/live) provided ball by ball coverage, including yours truly, on-line. The interest was very high, and rightly so. It was magnificent cricket as played by some very enthusiastic young men.

That the West Indies got the final at all was an achievement in itself, as they had to overcome losing to England in the early stages, a better run-rate scare from India, a last ball touch and go situation with South Africa in the semi-final, in a two day affair, to play the final on the third day. It was really a team, as Gus Logie said, probably destined to achieve something special. It should be noted that the last time any West Indies team won a World Cup, it was in the heady days of 1979!

By comparison, Pakistan looked the team of the tournament from the start, and faltered only in the final, their batting letting them down somewhat, though their bowlers worked hard and determinedly to get the right result. The West Indies just managed the win, by a paltry two wickets.

Ravi Rampaul, the tall medium fast bowler from Trinidad & Tobago, is a tremendous fast bowling prospect, generating some pace for a 15 year old. Xavier Marshall, the Jamaican opening batsman and off-spin bowler, is as agile as a 15 year old could be. Hemant Punoo, the Guyanese off-spinner, flights the ball as much as his compatriot and former Test player Lance Gibbs could have done at the same age. Tishan Maraj, the captain, looked a good player while at the crease, his bowling being appropriate. His captaincy, though, was superlative, putting really great pressure on the opponents with his tight field placings.

The only let down for the West Indies Under 15's was their outfielding in the final. Being such a good fielder in his time, Gus Logie would have been very disappointed at their overall effort in the field, about 75% worth. However, the wicket-keeper, Dinesh Ramdin, has tremendous poise for a 15 year old. More could come from him, I am sure.

Batting-wise, Lendl Simmons, the young Trinidadian who is a nephew of former West Indies Test player, Phil Simmons, looks a good prospect, but even now, must be told that 20's and 30's are not enough to keep you in a team. He literally gave his wicket away in the final when he looked so very good at the crease. However, it was Assad Fudadin, the young Guyanese batsman who looks, at the crease, so much like a young Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who caught the eye with some absolutely polished strokes. He richly deserved his "Man of the Match" award, playing some excellent shots along the way. He is another one who could provide some excitement in the future.

Kashif Mahmood, the Pakistani captain, not only showed great flexibility on the field of play, but tremendous poise at the press conference afterwards despite losing the final. Zulqarnain Honder Syed looked a good batsman for his 48, while his Shahid Yousuf, a budding all-rounder, could also feature in Pakistan's Test team soon. At least the Pakistanis have the advantage of normally being selected for the senior teams at a very early age. We could well see many of them by the end of this decade carrying Pakistan's cricket.

What happens to the West Indies players now that they have won the tournament is anyone's guess. Gus Logie was lament that exact fact. "The problem here is that now that these guys have won the Under 15 World Cup, they have nothing to look forward to." What a pity that is. At least, the Pakistanis could be luckier.

Whatever happens next, though, the players, all 22 of them, from both Pakistan and the West Indies, in the Under 15 World Cup, deserve every kudos that could be given to them. For the West Indies to have won this Under 15 World Cup competition must bring some hope for their progression to the higher levels. For now, though, they should be given all of the help they could get and in the meantime, allowed to enjoy their success. They deserve it.

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