ICC associates hit back at Holding for his remarks

Former Bermuda captain Lionel Cann and his Scotland counterpart George Salmond have hit back at West Indian bowling great Michael Holding for his remarks that participation of non-Test playing nations ‘devalued’ the World Cup. Cann said it was “selfish” of the legendary cricketer while Salmon expressed “disappointment” at his lack of understanding about how ambitious the non-Test countries were.

“I was surprised and appalled by Michael Holding’s remarks that minnows ‘devalued’ the World Cup. He was brought in to be the guest speaker at our first ever World Cup function and he says we shouldn’t be there!” Cann said.

“I actually feel, as someone who has played cricket his whole life, it was quite a selfish statement to make. I don’t think he’s looking at the big picture. It wasn’t that long ago people were calling Bangladesh minnows, now they’ve beaten Australia,” he wrote in the Bermuda Sun. Cann said it was demotivating for the Bermuda team but they would use the West Indian’s comments to excel at the World Cup.