Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the lineup for the West Indies Senior Women’s Team, participating in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Three players from Saint Lucia are in the squad.
The tournament will be held from 3rd to 20th October 2024 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the West Indies team aims to display their best talent on the global stage.
In Group B, the West Indies will compete against Bangladesh, England, Scotland, and South Africa. The squad, captained by Hayley Matthews, comprises both experienced players and promising talent, showcasing the depth and versatility of West Indies Women’s Cricket.
Saint Lucians Nerissa ‘Breezy Crafton, Qiana Joseph, and Zaida James have made it to the West Indies Women’s Team.
After political unrest in Bangladesh, the tournament was relocated to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup was revealed by Cricket West Indies on Thursday.
Crafton, 26, is a left-handed batter and medium-pace bowler. Joseph, 23, has played 11 T20 Internationals, while 19-year-old James has appeared in this format 13 times for the regional team.
Shane Deitz, the Head Coach of the West Indies Women’s Team, admitted that Crafton’s selection might have surprised many. He told the media that she was chosen based on a strong regional campaign, followed by an impressive showing at a recent training camp in Antigua & Barbuda.
The team heading to the UAE is once again led by Hayley Matthews, the 2023 T20 Cricketer of the Year, ‘Universe Boss’ Deandra Dottin, the dynamic Barbados all-rounder, will officially make her return after ending her two-year retirement and will renew her partnership with Matthews and former West Indies captain, Stafanie Taylor.
The West Indies team will have a two-week camp in Dubai ahead of the World Cup and is set to play two warmup matches before the competition starts.
West Indies Women’s T20 Squad:
Hayley Matthews – Captain, Shemaine Campbelle – Vice-Captain, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Nerissa Crafton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, and Stafanie Taylor.
The Team Management Unit is as follows:
Head Coach: Shane Deitz, Team Manager: Sheena Gooding, Assistant Coach: Ryan Austin, Assistant Coach: Damien Wright, Team Analyst: Gary Belle, Physiotherapist: Angelica Holder, Strength & Conditioning Coach: Antonia Burton, Performance Coach: Dr. Nadine Sammy, Team Doctor: Dr. Ruchelle Brown Calvert, and Team Media & Content Officer: Nicholas Maitland.
CWI Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, expressed confidence in the selected squad, stating, “We have a well-balanced team with a combination of experience and youth, and we believe this group has what it takes to compete strongly at the T20 World Cup. Our preparation has been thorough and the management team has worked tirelessly to ensure the players are ready for the challenges ahead.”
Head Coach Deitz added, “The players have shown great commitment and determination throughout our preparations. We are focused on executing our game plan and making the West Indies proud on the world stage.”
The West Indies Women’s Team will begin their T20 World Cup campaign on October 4th 2024 against South Africa, with the goal of bringing the prestigious title back to the Caribbean.