Even by West Indies standards, their build up has been fraught. Frayed relations between the players and the board; a dispute over pay; key performers withdrawing.
Not that any of that is really new. They are used to coping with such distractions, but there may just have been one player withdrawal too many.
The loss of Lendl Simmons to injury on the eve of the competition might have been the final lance to their previously justified title aspirations.
Read: Darren Sammy: When it comes to T20, West Indies still as dominant as in 70s and 80s
Coach: Phil Simmons
Tournament best: Winners in 2012
Match winner: Sammy Badree
The leg-spinner’s strike-rate of a wicket every 16.6 deliveries in the 11th best in the history of international T20s, while his economy rate (5.39 from 22 matches) is by far the best of anyone.
Despite his statistics, he remains a relatively anonymous star, in the shadow of the likes of Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy, and even the absent mystery spinner Sunil Narine.
New face: Jason Holder
The West Indies captain at the 50-over World Cup a year ago is still only 24. He has only played four T20 internationals to date and his returns with both bat and ball are meagre.
The loss of proven match-winners such as Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard, though, means he could have an important role to play if the Caribbean side are to progress.
Key match: England v West Indies, Mumbai, March 16
Predicted finish: Semi-finals
Squad: Darren Sammy (captain), Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor. *15th squad member to replace Lendl Simmons (back injury) still to be named.
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