Gloom hung low as the first batch of West Indies cricketers departed for United Arab Emirates last month following the axing of their coach Mr Phil Simmons on, or just before, the day of their departure.

Three weeks later, the gloom remains.

The West Indies have lost all six limited overs games — three Twenty20 matches and three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) – against their hosts Pakistan by very substantial margins. They were a shadow of the team guided by Mr Simmons which so gloriously won the World T20 title earlier this year and reached the final of a tri-nation ODI series involving Australia and India in mid-year.And as the three-Test series approaches, there is the very reasonable fear that a demotivated West Indies could suffer further extreme humiliation.Unsurprisingly, all-rounder Mr Dwayne Bravo, who readers will remember was the leader of that infamous players’ strike in India two years ago, has lashed out after returning from the T20 leg of the tour. Mr Bravo says the West Indies players were demoralised and “lost” following the sacking of their coach.Just as predictably, management has responded to Mr Bravo’s remarks. A statement attributed to Team Manager Mr Joel Garner said that Mr Bravo “with prior permission, by the former head coach, turned up on the day before the first Twenty20 match” and that “his suggestion of disorganisation in the team’s plans and preparation is therefore false and misleading”.Those who still hold West Indies cricket dear will be hoping that for the upcoming Test series somehow, from somewhere, Captain Mr Jason Holder and his men will find the spirit which allowed them to earn a Test match draw against powerful India when all seemed lost in Jamaica in early August.Of course, even with all the gloom surrounding the men’s team, the embattled West Indies Cricket Board has been able to boast of the achievements of the women’s team. The World T20 champions are on show in ODI cricket in Jamaica over the next 11 days against England.Their campaign begins today at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, a second ODI against England will be played on Monday at the same venue, followed by three more at Sabina Park in Kingston.Those last three ODIs will count towards the ICC Women’s Championship, described as “a multi-year, bilateral competition between the top eight international women’s sides, which will lead to automatic qualification for the top four teams to next year’s ICC Women’s World Cup to be hosted by the England and Wales Cricket Board”.West Indies women are currently second in the standings on 20 points — 10 behind current ODI World champions Australia Women — and just one ahead of England Women.West Indies women are due to complete their schedule of ICC Women’s Championship matches in November on the road against India.This newspaper joins in wishing West Indies women and men’s teams all the very best.

The West Indies have lost all six limited overs games — three Twenty20 matches and three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) – against their hosts Pakistan by very substantial margins. They were a shadow of the team guided by Mr Simmons which so gloriously won the World T20 title earlier this year and reached the final of a tri-nation ODI series involving Australia and India in mid-year.

And as the three-Test series approaches, there is the very reasonable fear that a demotivated West Indies could suffer further extreme humiliation.

Unsurprisingly, all-rounder Mr Dwayne Bravo, who readers will remember was the leader of that infamous players’ strike in India two years ago, has lashed out after returning from the T20 leg of the tour. Mr Bravo says the West Indies players were demoralised and “lost” following the sacking of their coach.

Just as predictably, management has responded to Mr Bravo’s remarks. A statement attributed to Team Manager Mr Joel Garner said that Mr Bravo “with prior permission, by the former head coach, turned up on the day before the first Twenty20 match” and that “his suggestion of disorganisation in the team’s plans and preparation is therefore false and misleading”.

Those who still hold West Indies cricket dear will be hoping that for the upcoming Test series somehow, from somewhere, Captain Mr Jason Holder and his men will find the spirit which allowed them to earn a Test match draw against powerful India when all seemed lost in Jamaica in early August.

Of course, even with all the gloom surrounding the men’s team, the embattled West Indies Cricket Board has been able to boast of the achievements of the women’s team. The World T20 champions are on show in ODI cricket in Jamaica over the next 11 days against England.

Their campaign begins today at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, a second ODI against England will be played on Monday at the same venue, followed by three more at Sabina Park in Kingston.

Those last three ODIs will count towards the ICC Women’s Championship, described as “a multi-year, bilateral competition between the top eight international women’s sides, which will lead to automatic qualification for the top four teams to next year’s ICC Women’s World Cup to be hosted by the England and Wales Cricket Board”.

West Indies women are currently second in the standings on 20 points — 10 behind current ODI World champions Australia Women — and just one ahead of England Women.

West Indies women are due to complete their schedule of ICC Women’s Championship matches in November on the road against India.

This newspaper joins in wishing West Indies women and men’s teams all the very best.