Tweets from the Stranded: Political protest or a simple cry for help?

Even today, foreign commentators and analysts make comments about the team that have undertones. West Indies have been called ‘pathetic’ and ‘brutish’ and plenty worse. The team has taken to responding indirectly rather than overtly, with the term ‘pathetic’ being a significant motivator for Kraigg and his crew during the Test win at the Gabba. These moments may be rare, but when they do happen, they often carry a social or racial undercurrent. When direct speech becomes impossible, indirect speech becomes the tool. 

This issue reared its head in a different form recently with the attacks on Iran by the United States. As a result of the conflict, the airspace above several Middle Eastern nations were closed as a precaution, disrupting return flights for teams that had been knocked out of the T20 World Cup. Primarily, South Africa and the West Indies remained stranded in the subcontinent*

Several members of the West Indian camp took to social media to voice their frustrations about the extended stay, with coach Darren Sammy tweeting on March 5th, “I just wanna go home,” and “At least an update, tell us something. Today tmw [sic], next week. It’s been 5 days.”