Stating that the unexpected triumph at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh is a huge boost for the morale of West Indies cricket is to seriously understate the case.

It’s not just that West Indies youth won, showing talent, self-belief and style throughout the knockout stages of the tournament, it was also the passion that caught the eye.

It has become popular to say that young cricketers in the Caribbean no longer have strong interest in playing for the West Indies.

No one who sat up at night to watch the West Indies Under-19s during this just-concluded tournament can now convincingly make that argument.

Here was a bunch of youngsters, of whom little was expected, from diverse places along the chain of islands, from Jamaica in the north to Guyana in mainland South America, bonding as one, refusing to take a backward step, doing whatever it took for the West Indies to win.

It’s been argued that the catalyst came against Zimbabwe in the final game of the group stages. Needing to win in order to make it to the quarter-final, 17-year-old seamer Mr Keemo Paul, who was running in to bowl, opted out of his delivery stride and instead ran out a non-striking batsman who had marginally left his crease. That dismissal handed West Indies victory by two runs.

Critics argued that though the dismissal was lawful, it violated the so-called “spirit of cricket“. The young West Indians found themselves at the butt end of an abusive storm.

Such an experience would have caused some to wilt. The opposite clearly happened with this group. They became stronger, more determined, and ultimately impossible to beat.

In the quarter-finals they steam-rolled Pakistan by five wickets with 10 overs remaining. In their semi-final against hosts Bangladesh, who had swept them 3-0 in a pre-tournament series, the West Indies Under-19s, perhaps, had their sternest test. But despite having to contend with talented, steely opponents backed by a partisan, 10,000-strong crowd, the West Indians refused to bow, coming out winners by three wickets.

And in a low-scoring final against mighty India – unbeaten in 20 Under-19 games since 2014 – the West Indies held their nerves impressively in bowler-friendly conditions to win by five wickets in the final overs. Incredibly, the West Indian bowlers were not at their most efficient while dismissing India for just 145. They gave away 16 wides, among 23 extras, but still proved too good. It was the first world title for a West indies Under-19 team – the previous best being beaten finalists in 2004.

Let’s be clear. This triumph does not automatically mean a change of fortunes for West Indies cricket. But it has provided hope when there was none, and lifted morale from the depths of despair.

All praise is due to the players, led by the impressive Guyanese left-hand batsman Mr Shimron Hetmyer; and the tour management, not least coaches Mr Graeme West and the former West Indies fast bowler Mr Corey Collymore.

The much-aligned West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) must also be commended for the commitment and belief which would have allowed preparation camps for the youngsters over the last two years, despite the costs and logistical difficulties; and crucially ensuring that the squad was in Bangladesh well ahead of time to become acclimatised.

The WICB has come under heavy fire down the years — well deserved, we believe. But this time they got it right. When credit is due, it should be given.