Sobers and Weekes back under-fire Lara

Two West Indies legends, Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Everton Weekes, have backed West Indies captain Brian Lara amidst criticism following West Indies' disappointing performance in the World Cup so far.

Speaking shortly after a Commemorative Coin launch in Barbados, Sobers felt that Lara was still the most knowledgeable person in West Indies cricket and that it wouldn't be fair to lay the blame on the captain alone.

"There have always been criticisms about Lara. I don't know what people expect of him," Sobers told Caribbean Media Corporation. "I don't know if the people expect him to hold their [the players] hands and to take them away and make them perform. Lara, in my estimation, is still the most knowledgeable person in West Indies cricket. Lara knows his cricket."

West Indies have lost three consecutive games since their entry into the Super Eights and will now have to win all their three remaining games to secure a berth in the semi-finals. Bangladesh's win against South Africa on Saturday has given West Indies a chance at qualifying, though it still remains an outside chance with England and Bangladesh too fighting for a spot.

Weekes agreed with Sobers's views, given that Lara doesn't have a great team at his disposal, unlike West Indies teams of the past. He added that drastic changes in the side wouldn't help.

"All of the great captains had great teams," Weekes said. "Lara has not got a great team and I wouldn't go as far as saying that he should be fired. Lara is still the best batsman in the side. He might not be the best captain and he is not the best captain because he hasn't got a good team."

West Indies play their next match on Tuesday in Grenada, against South Africa.