“Anybody could have an opinion about me. I like it. My shoulders are broad enough. It's been like that from the time I started cricket. Once I wear this [West Indies] crest (pointing to his shirt), I wear it on my heart. That's what matters,” Darren Sammy had said.

It was odd that Sammy was found defending himself minutes after lifting the World Twenty20 Trophy. But it seems the man will still have to do a bit before critics are convinced about his skills as a player and, more importantly, as a leader. He also has to win over a few of his teammates, which include none other than Chris Gayle.

When asked to comment on Sammy's captaincy during the ICC event, Gayle preferred to reserve his judgment, the Jamaica Star reported.

“It has been a pressure situation for him (Sammy) and from a captain's point of view I have been there and done that. It is not an easy task, but it is up to him and the WICB to judge him as captain; it is not for me to judge. Right now I am just being positive and enjoying the moment of success.

He added: “He (Sammy) has been productive and it has been one goal, one unit. We all rallied around each other and I shared with him on and off the field. He wasn't a captain who was stand- offish, he came and was man enough to ask questions, because they were a lot of senior guys there and we worked together and it was all good.”