With the inaugural edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup just around the corner, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced their Ashmini Munisar-led squad of 15 which has been briefed right below. The squad in their lead-up to the upcoming, mega ICC event toured the United States of America (USA) and India as well.
West Indies U-19 Squad For ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup :
Ashmini Munisar (C), Asabi Callendar, Jahzara Claxton, Naijanni Cumberbatch, Earnisha Fontaine, Jannillea Glasgow, Realanna Grimmond, Trishan Holder, Zaida James, Djenaba Joseph, K D Jazz Mitchell, Shalini Samaroo, Shunelle Sawh, Lena Scott, Abini St Jean
Kenikaa Cassar and Kate Wilmott who were a part of the 15-member West Indies U-19 squad that recently toured India for a Tri-Series featuring India and Sri Lanka and a couple of T20 game series against the New Zealand U-19, have failed to make the cut and the duo is replaced by Abini St Jean and Earnisha Fontaine, who were a part of the 23-player bunch that trained in a camp in West Indies.
West Indies’ lead-up to their India tour saw the CWI shortlist a bunch of 23 players who participate in a couple of trial matches on the 1st of November and then a final and third trial match on the 3rd of November. On the 4th, 5th, and 6th of November, the bunch had skills and fitness sessions under the guidance of the head coach, Steve Liburd.
U19 West Indies squad for the upcoming U19 Women’s T20 World Cup announced 👇#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/tMZq9jppoN
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) December 10, 2022
West Indies when toured the States’ mid this year for a 5-match T20 series, only registered a win that too had come by the barest of margins, a run win in the 2nd T20. The side on their India tour remained winless, both in their Tri-Series fixtures as well as the bilateral T20 series against New Zealand.
Lead Selector, Mrs. Ann Browne-John, said, “The Under 19 girls T20 World Cup will be a historic event being the first of its kind in women’s international cricket. In preparation for this, the team embarked on tours of the USA and the recent Tri-Series in India against the hosts and New Zealand. These series have identified some competent up-and-coming batters like Djenaba Joseph, Shunelle Sawh, and Trishan Holder who are showing potential to transition to a higher level.
“We also had excellent performances from the two main spinners, captain Ashmini Munisar and Shalini Samaroo. We’ve held training camps over the past few months and the preparation will culminate with a final camp to be held in Antigua this month. This international exposure would no doubt be extremely beneficial, not only to this group of players but also serve as an investment and feeder group into the senior West Indies Women’s set up.”
Captain Ashmini Munisar, said, “It is every cricketer’s dream to play for their country let alone be able to captain their team, it is an immense honour that I get to do it at this historic inaugural ICC Women’s U19 World Cup. We have been playing together for the past few months and all the players are gelling and progressing quite nicely and we’re all excited to represent the West Indies.”
The inaugural edition of the U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup will be played from the 14th to the 29th of January, 2023, and will see 41 matches played across 15 days at Benoni and Potchefstroom in South Africa. West Indies placed in Group C will play Ireland in their opener on the 15th of January, they then play Indonesia and New Zealand on the 17th and 19th of January respectively.
(Quotes sourced from CWI media release)