BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH the aim of defending its title at next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup, the West Indies Under-19 cricket team will be encamped in the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis before winging out for New Zealand in late December.
According to a statement from Cricket West Indies, the 15-member squad and three reserves, including St. Kitts and Nevis’ very own, Kian Pemberton, would be encamped in the Federation for 11days.
“The camp which will run from December 10-20 is the last round of preparation before they depart the region on December 28. Windies Under 19 are the defending champions for the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup New Zealand 2018. The tournament runs from January 13 to February 3,” the statement read.
The youth team won its first trophy under the captaincy of Shemroy Hetmyer in 2016; a year which saw the West Indies gaining two other trophies – the Men’s World T20 and Women’s World T20.
In the release, Head Coach Graeme West is quoted as saying: “It’s an exciting time for these guys now that they’ve discovered they’re going to be going to a World Cup.”
West disclosed that it is a younger side than the one they took to Bangladesh last year, where they won their maiden trophy.
“However, we have a very established, experienced batting group, with the likes of Kirstan Kallicharan and Emmanuel Stewart who went to the last World Cup,” noted West.
The Head Coach is adamant that a lot more attention [would be] on the West Indies in this tournament as a result of the last tournament and title in Bangladesh.
“In the group stage, we’re in a very tough group as the number one seeds, so we’re going to have to hit the ground running just to succeed in the group stage,” he added.
According to Cricket West Indies, the team is scheduled to depart the region on December 28, and upon arrival in New Zealand they would hold a one-week camp prior to the start of the tournament.
Listed below is the full squad for the tournament:
Emmanuel Stewart – Captain (Windward Islands- Grenada), Kirstan Kallicharan – Vice Captain (Trinidad & Tobago), Ronaldo Alimohammed - (Guyana), Alick Athanaze - (Windward Islands - Dominica), Cephas Cooper - (Trinidad & Tobago), Jarion Hoyte - (Barbados), Kimani Melius - (Windward Islands - St. Lucia), Ashmead Nedd - (Guyana), Kian Pemberton - (Leeward Islands - St. Kitts & Nevis), Raymond Perez - (Guyana), Joshua Persaud - (Guyana), Jeavor Royal - (Jamaica), Keagan Simmons - (Trinidad & Tobago), Bhaskar Yadram - (Guyana), and Nyeem Young - (Barbados).
Reserves
Brad Barnes - (Jamaica), Joshua Bishop - (Barbados), and Javier Spencer - (Leeward Islands - Antigua & Barbuda).
Management Team
Graeme West - (Head Coach), Dwain Gill - (Team Operations Manager), Corey Collymore - (Assistant Coach), Khevyn Williams - (Physiotherapist), Zephyrinus Nicholas - (Strength & Conditioning Coach), and Dinesh Mahabir - (Analyst)
