BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SELECTORS for the West Indies have announced full-strength squads for both the males and females ahead of the highly-anticipated World Twenty20 tournament to be held in the Caribbean from April 30 to May 16.
The men’s team will see the return of both lead bowler Jerome Taylor and middle-order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan. Both men had been out with injury since last year and missed the most recent home series against Zimbabwe, but Chairman of the selectors Clyde Butts said both men are ready to take on the world.
“Dwayne Bravo is one of the leading allrounders in world cricket and he is the key man with bat and ball. We are happy to have Jerome Taylor back in the bowling department and this is a big plus. I also believe Sulieman Benn will play a major role with the ball,” he said.
Butts noted that Sarwan would add much needed stability to the middle-order along with Shivnarine Chanderpaul and fans can expect West Indies to record some impressive innings against the world’s top beginning later this month.
The male side is also likely to be bolstered by Captain Chris Gayle, Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Kemar Roach, all of whom have been keeping their Twenty20 skills sharp in the India Premier League.
“Our girls have been playing some very good cricket in the last six months. They beat England, the number one team in the world, and I know they will be ready when the first match bowls off,” Butts said of the female team, which will once again be headed up by Merissa Aguilleira.
The selected side is nearly identical to the one that thoroughly dominated world T20 and One Day International champion England in November of last year at Warner Park.
The spirited performance proved that women’s cricket is truly on an upward trend in the West Indies, and Butts said that he believes the selected team for the World Twenty20 has the right combination to win it all and make a lasting impression.
“With Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin at the top of the order, we have two match-winners. They are also capable allrounders and they are growing with every match. I would expect these players to lead with Cordel Jack and Pamela Lavine making good contributions as well.
“We have a good bowling unit as well led by Anisa Mohammed with Taylor, Shanel Daley and Shakera Selman also able to get crucial wickets,” he stated.
The first men’s match for West Indies will be against Ireland at Providence Stadium in Guyana on April 30, while the women will begin their run for the coveted ICC trophy on May 5 against South Africa at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium.
West Indies men’s squad: Chris Gayle (capt), Sulieman Benn, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Andre Fletcher, Wavell Hinds, Nikita Miller, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor
West Indies women's squad: Merissa Aguilleira (capt), Kirbyina Alexander, Shemaine Campbelle, Britney Cooper, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Cordel Jack, Stacy-Ann King, Pamela Lavine, Anisa Mohammed, Juliana Nero, Shakera Salman, Tremayne Smartt, Stafanie Taylor
