West Indies vs ICC World XI: 5 reasons why such matches should happen more often

The West Indian cricket team is all set to take on the ICC World XI for a fund-raising T20 game at the Lords Cricket Ground in England on Thursday (May 31).

Many international stars like Shahid Afridi, Rashid Khan, Dinesh Karthik, and Mohammad Shami will contest against the current World T20 Champions on the day.

While the West Indian team will be lead by Carlos Braithwaite, Shahid Afridi will take the leadership baton of the World XI from Eoin Morgan, who cannot participate in the match due to a sudden injury.

Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Samuel Badri, and Evin Lewis have all been included in the squad of the World T20 Champions. On the other hand, Dinesh Karthik, Rashid Khan, Mohamed Shami, Luke Ronchi, and Tamim Iqbal will play alongside Afridi in the World XI.

The last World XI game organized by ICC was back in September 2017, with a three-match T20 series that was conducted to initiate international cricket in Pakistan once again. The series was won by the home side by a 2-1 margin.

The finances raised on the day will be going in rebuilding the stadiums that were damaged due to the hurricanes in the Carribean islands last year.

Here is why World XI games should take place more often in international cricket:

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#5 International rivals playing together

When ICC organizes World XI matches, it brings together cricketers from different countries in a single team. While this concept is at the crux of domestic T20 leagues like IPL and CPL, it finds form in international cricket on very rare occasions.

Moreover, certain things that do not take place in these leagues happen in World XI matches. For instance, India and Pakistan internationals can play together for this team and thus, tick a box they would not have been able to otherwise.

Additionally, the performances that these players put up in these games are added to their international tallies, naturally becoming more valuable than their statistics in domestic leagues.

#4 A breath of fresh air

Just ICC tournaments cannot keep cricket afloat for long

One of the major criticisms that international cricket has faced through the years is that it gets mundane, repetitive, and redundant over time. The audience tends to lose interest following one bilateral series after the other, while waiting for the next ICC tournament to come into the fold.

ICC World XI games give these cricket fans something different to look forward to, thus adding a new sense of excitement and anticipation to following the game. It is very important for cricket to evolve with time, so as to retain and magnify its popularity through the next few decades.

This is an easy option to sprinkle innovation on the regular cricketing calendar, as it will not only give the viewers something different to cherish from time to time but, if sustained over long periods, will add a new dimension to the game.

#3 Ideal fund-raising platform

This initiative can raise funds across the globe

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world. The cricket industry generates employment opportunities for thousands of people across the globe, flourishing with every game and every series that is played between the participating nations.

Since the game is loved so deeply across these countries, the concept of ICC World XI is a serious opportunity for the board to raise funds to tackle cricketing as well as non-cricketing issues of the world.

It will be an ideal way for ICC to give something back to the audience of the sport, while also helping them create a positive PR machinery for themselves through the charitable aspect of these matches.

#2 A divergent challenge for participating cricketers

This concept helps cricketers add different dimensions to their game

While team bonding and understanding between national teammates is of utmost importance in international cricket, growing in different conditions is what add dimensions to a player's game.

This is one of the main reasons behind numerous cricketers opt to contest in county cricket, the Big Bash League, and other competitions.

When if the ICC World XI matches become a little more regular, well-structured, and planned, they can provide a similar opportunity for these cricketers.

It will not only help them learn from their rivals while developing new connections in the community but, will also challenge their talent in a unique and untried way.

#1 Tests the strength of the opposition

West Indies are the defending champions of ICC World T20

While one team assimilates cricketers from different backgrounds and teams, their opponents are the defending Champions of the most recent World Cup (T20 as well as ODI).

When talented individuals come together to form a completely new team for the game, it pushes their opposition out of their comfort zone, thus providing them with an opportunity to test themselves thoroughly.

Hence, when West Indies take on the ICC World XI on Thursday, they will take away a lot of positives as well as negatives from the match, which will help them plan better going forward.

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Do you think West Indies XI vs World XI is a good idea? Sound off in the comments!