“I feel justified and believe that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) had it right, all along,” said the Honourable Gaston Browne, minutes after the West Indies Team beat England in the ICC 20/20 final game on Sunday, April 3, 2016, by four wickets, and two balls remaining.

“The final over of the match demonstrated the resolve, the capability, the concentration required of the West Indies Team when challenged,” Prime Minister Browne commented. He congratulated the West Indies for its stunning victory. The Prime Minister said that he hoped this resounding victory would help to unite the stakeholders and strengthen the administration and performance of West Indies cricket in the future.

West Indian batsman Carlos Braithwaite hit four consecutive sixes off England’s star bowler, Ben Stokes, in the final over, carrying West Indies to victory in a spectacular show of competence. Marlon Samuel hit 85 not-out, serving as the anchor in the final overs of the match.

The Prime Minister’s remarks came as a consequence of the disagreement among the CARICOM Prime Ministers; the majority wanted to eliminate the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), blaming the WICB for the failure of the team. Prime Minister Gaston Browne made it very clear that victory was dependent upon the players themselves; the Board, he believed, could not be blamed for on-field performance. Victory, he believes, lies with the players. Today’s performance proves Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister correct.

Captain Darren Sammy praised his team for 15 match wins during the tournament, and applauded Carlos Braithwaite for his magnificent performance, especially in the final and decisive over. The West Indies Captain mentioned receiving a phone call from Prime Minister Mitchell of Grenada, that very morning, encouraging them to perform decisively. He thanked the Prime Minister and noted that he understood the objective which CARICOM was trying to achieve.

The West Indies Team needed 19 runs to win in the final over. Braithwaite hit four consecutive sixes, humiliating the England bowler who normally delivers for his team. The West Indies women also won their final World 20/20 match that very Sunday morning, bringing victory and a feeling of delight to all West Indians at home and abroad. Minister E. Paul Chet Greene, the Minister of Sports, also sent his congratulations to the West Indies Team on behalf of all Antigua and Barbuda.