West Indies Women are welcoming back former captain Stafanie Taylor, Britney Cooper and bowlers Shamilia Connell and Shakera Selman as the team looks ahead to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in February.
The squad of 16, named on Thursday, will play in a T20 International (T20I) Tri-Series against South Africa and India in East London from January 19 to 30.
“The selection panel has named a squad that we believe has the talent and experience to compete against India and South Africa. The squad sees the return of Stafanie Taylor who missed the recent series against England due to injury and Britney Cooper, the middle order batter who last played against South Africa Women in September 2021,” said lead selector Ann Browne-John
“Our batting in the most recent series was less than par against a very good England bowling attack. We believe that with the return of some experienced batters, they will the able to support captain Hayley Matthews at the top of the order. Shamilia Connell and Shakera Selman also return after injury and will fortify the pace attack with Chinelle Henry, Cherry Ann Fraser and Aaliyah Alleyne. The team had commendable performances in South Africa in early 2022 and we know that the entire team will be drawing on that experience as they take on the home team and India in this Tri-Series and then potentially again at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup also in South Africa.”
The West Indies Women will play at least four matches, two each against hosts South Africa and India. The two leading teams will then clash in the Tri-Series Final at Buffalo Park on February 2.
West Indies will also play a warm-up match against South Africa ahead of the Tri-Series at Beacon Bay on January 16.
All matches in the Tri-Series will be played at the Buffalo Park in East London.
Final squads for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa must be submitted by February 2. The eighth edition of the marquee ICC Women’s Event will begin on February 10 with hosts South Africa taking on Sri Lanka. West Indies have been drawn in Group 2 alongside England, India, Pakistan and Ireland.
Newlands, Cape Town, Boland Park, Paarl and St George’s Park, Gqeberha are the host venues for the tournament with both Semi-Finals and Final being played in Cape Town. The Final at Newlands will be held on February 26.
FULL SQUAD: Hayley Matthews (Captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Chedean Nation, Cherry Ann Fraser, Afy Fletcher, Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Karishma Ramharack, Kaysia Schultz, Shakera Selman, Stafanie Taylor and Rashada Williams.
Match Schedule
January 16: Warm up Match vs South Africa, Beacon Bay
T20I Tri-Series West Indies Match Schedule – all matches to be played at Buffalo Park, East London
January 21: vs South Africa, 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. Eastern Caribbean/8 a.m. Jamaica)
January 23: vs India, 7 p.m. local time (1 p.m. Eastern Caribbean/12noon Jamaica)
January 25: vs South Africa, 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. Eastern Caribbean/8 a.m. Jamaica)
January 30: vs India, 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. Eastern Caribbean/8 a.m. Jamaica)
February 2: Tri-Series Final, 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. Eastern Caribbean/8 a.m. Jamaica)
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Group 2 West Indies Match schedule
February 13: vs England, Boland Park, Paarl, 3 p.m. (9 a.m. Eastern Caribbean/8 a.m. Jamaica)
February 15: vs India, Newlands, Cape Town, 3 p.m. (9 a.m. Eastern Caribbean/8 a.m. Jamaica)
February 17: vs Ireland, Newlands, Cape Town,7 p.m. (1 p.m. Eastern Caribbean/noon Jamaica)
February 19: vs Pakistan, Boland Park, Paarl, 3 p.m. (9 a.m. Eastern Caribbean/8 a.m. Jamaica)
(Piccture courtesy CWI Media/ Daniel Prentice, Randy Brooks)