The 8th edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup is scheduled to get underway on the 10th of February in South Africa, and for the tournament, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced their squad of 15 which sees former skipper and 3 player’s from the Under-19 World Cup squad, make the cut.
The squad announced by CWI sees the trio of Zaida James, Trishan Holder, and Djenaba Joseph from the West Indies Under-19 squad who recently featured in the inaugural edition of the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup and then served as injury covers to the West Indies senior team in their lead-up Tri-Series now go on to find a spot in the World Cup squad of 15.
West Indies selects Under 19 talents in their senior lineup for the T20 World Cup 🤩#CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/qc3Sne0jQU
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 2, 2023
Former skipper and veteran all-rounder, Stafanie Taylor, too has made the cut but her participation is subject to her final fitness assessment. The 31-year-old is understood of battling a back issue and for the same, she was assessed by a specialist in Johannesburg, and then “travelled to Cape Town for more treatment and to commence her return to play protocols ahead of the Team’s arrival on Fridays”.
West Indies squad for Women’s T20 World Cup 2023
Hayley Matthews (C), Shemaine Campbelle (VC), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher, Shabika Gajnabi, Chinelle Henry, Trishan Holder, Zaida James, Djenaba Joseph, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams
🌴West Indies announces their squad for the T20 World Cup #CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/DGYjE62ryh
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 2, 2023
Lead selector, Ann Browne-John, said, “The selectors have opted for a blend of youth and experience for the upcoming T20 World Cup. We continue the developmental pathway to grow women’s cricket in the region, hence we feel the time is right to include three of the Under 19 Rising Stars in the squad. We believe the 15 players consist of a good all-round mix and we expect them to be able to compete in this World Cup.”
West Indies have had a busy pre-tournament schedule but the result have been a worry for the side and for Hayley Matthews to repeat Stafanie Taylor’s heroics from the 2016 edition, which saw West Indies claim the silverware, she’s got to leave aside the record of a sole win off their last 13 Twenty20 International (T20I) outings.
West Indies is placed in Group 2 World Cup and have fixtures lined up against England on the 11th of February, India on the 15th, Ireland on the 17th, and play their final league stage game against Pakistan on the 19th of February.
(Quotes sourced from CWI media release)