The system of pre-seedings has come in for widespread criticism with all the group toppers at the Men’s T20 World Cup having been clubbed together in the same Super Eights group.

While doing his best to dead-bat the issue, Daren Sammy, the West Indies head coach, sounded empathetic with the organisers taking logistics into consideration.

“In sports, you seldom get the top teams in the same round. My team knows they just have to play (in) a World Cup. We have got Zimbabwe tomorrow, we have got South Africa and then India,” Sammy said at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, ahead of its Super Eight opener against giant-killer Zimbabwe on Monday.

“We have got finalists of the last World Cup (in the same group). If you are going to win, you have got to play what’s in front of you. Not take it for granted, not take anybody lightly.

West Indies coach Darren Sammy during a practice session at ICC T20 World Cup 2026
| Photo Credit:
X@ICC

“If you start to bring in other factors, it takes you off-track on your focus. For us, our focus is Zimbabwe tomorrow and (to) do everything in our power to come out victorious.”

When asked whether the International Cricket Council (ICC) should reconsider pre-seedings in order to avoid top teams in the same group in future, Sammy said: “If you take the logistics that comes into it, trying to give the fans who probably travel, an opportunity to plan ahead,” Sammy said.

“I am pretty sure Zimbabwe looking at that group there gave them motivation and inspiration to come out and play the way they played. But I do understand from the logistics standpoint. Trying to give the fans the surety. That’s not my thing (to decide).”