West Indies Cricket today announced their 12-member squad for the upcoming 3-match ODI series against Australia Women.
31 years old, veteran cricketer Anisa Mohammed is included in the squad who last played for her national side on 9th Feb against Pakistan Women in Dubai.
Stafanie Taylor will lead the side and Hayley Matthews will take up the vice-captaincy role. However, there has been a lot of shuffles in the team, with the majority of the players being out due to injury. The team will miss the services of experienced players like Shakera Selman, Chedean Nation, and Shemaine Campbelle. On the other hand, this will also be a test for new-comers and youngsters to make the most of this opportunity.
A very interesting addition to the team is of a nineteen-year-old Guyanese medium-pacer Shabika Gajnabi (left) who will make her debut for the national side in the series. She has captained the Guyana Under-19 girls team thrice and brings a lot of composure and strong arm to the squad. With a top score of 77 in the CWI Women’s Championship earlier this year and a handy economy rate, she gives Taylor a bonus in both the batting and bowling.
“The panel selected the best available players from the camp in Antigua over the last month, as a result of most of our senior players being unavailable due to injury. We have included Anisa Mohammed and Kyshona Knight who have a lot of experience between them, which is required when playing against Australia, the top-ranked women’s team,” said Interim Chairman of Selectors Robert Haynes.
“As a result of the injuries to our senior players, it gave us the opportunity to select two of our younger players in Shabika Gajnabi and Karishma Ramharack to give the captain more options in the bowling department.”
The West Indies women’s cricket team will play their first ODI at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. The remaining two ODI matches will be played at the Sir Vivian Richard Stadium, and finally the tour shifts to the Kensington Oval in Barbados for the three T20 Internationals.
Tickets can be bought at the local box offices at the stadium from September 3 in Antigua and from 12th September in Barbados.
West Indies Squad for three-match Colonial Medical Insurance One Day International (ODI) Series against Australia:
Stafanie Taylor (Captain), Hayley Matthews (Vice-Captain), Reniece Boyce, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Shamilia Connell, Stacy Ann King, Natasha McLean, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Anisa Mohammed, Karishma Ramharack and Shabika Gajnabi.
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