A host of changes has been announced as Cricket West Indies (CWI) makes public its squad of 15 for the forthcoming 9th edition of the Women’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup, scheduled from October 3rd to 20th, 2024, in the United Arab Emirates.
The return of Deandra Dottin highlights the Hayley Matthews-led squad, which features uncapped players pacer Nerissa Crafton (26) and batting all-rounder Mandy Mangru (24), along with the return of off-spinner Ashmini Munisar, who last played a T20I in July 2023. This squad includes four changes from their most recent series against Sri Lanka in June.
West Indies squad for the 2024 Women’s World Cup:
Hayley Matthews (C), Shemaine Campbelle, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Nerissa Crafton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor
The West Indies won both of their T20I series this year, 4-1 against Pakistan and 2-1 against Sri Lanka. Retaining their match-winners Hayley Matthews, Shemaine Campbelle, and Karishma Ramharack, alongside veterans Stefanie Taylor and Afy Fletcher, among others, the national selectors have omitted Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Rashada Williams, and Kate Wilmott, largely due to their poor performances in T20 cricket.
Notably, Rashada Williams and Shabika Gajnabi, who were the top run-scorers in the 2024 domestic T20 competition, failed to replicate their form in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) and international cricket. As a result, they are replaced by Nerissa Crafton and Mandy Mangru. Neither Crafton nor Mangru played in the 2024 WCPL; Mangru scored 111 runs in domestic T20 games, while Crafton managed only 12 runs from 5 outings.
Barbados Royals successfully defended their Women’s Caribbean Premier League title with a 4-wicket victory over Trinbago Knight Riders in the final
However, the return of all-rounder Deandra Dottin strengthens the team, offsetting the exclusion of a few seasoned players. Deandra, who had announced her retirement in August 2022 due to a “non-conducive” environment within the West Indies setup, made a welcome return to international cricket late last month, while she is yet to play her first game.
Deandra, who was the first to score a century in WT20Is, had accumulated 2,697 runs and taken 62 wickets from 127 T20I appearances before her retirement. Her highest score of 112* came against South Africa in the 2010 home World Cup, where she set a record for the fastest century, achieved in just 38 balls—an all-time record in both men’s and women’s cricket at the time. She scored her second T20I century, 112, against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Though Deandra did not participate in the 2024 domestic season, she made an impact in the recently concluded WCPL. In 5 matches, she scored 119 runs at a strike rate of 109.17, and while she proved expensive in her 3 overs, she remained athletic in the field. Her crucial innings of 53 off 38 balls helped draw a game, and her cameo of 13 off 4 balls in the super over led her team to their maiden win this season.
The Windies will have an ideal lead-up to the World Cup with warm-up matches against India and Australia in Dubai. In Group B, the 2016 World Cup champions will kick off their campaign against South Africa on October 4, followed by matches against Scotland, Bangladesh, and England in the league stage.