Sammy Eyes Historic Nepal Tour to Refine T20 World Cup Squad
In an unprecedented move, a West Indies ‘A’ team is set to tour Nepal for a five-match T20 series. The team will feature seasoned T20 players like Fabian Allen, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, and Hayden Walsh. This tour is a part of the preparation for the forthcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Several regular West Indies players, including captain Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, Kyle Mayers, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Alzarri Joseph, and Shimron Hetmyer, are currently participating in the Indian Premier League. This Nepal tour will provide an excellent opportunity for the remaining players to gain some match experience ahead of the home T20 World Cup.
Darren Sammy showcased his exceptional batting skills as West Indies clinched their second and final #WT20 warm-up match against Australia at the packed Eden Gardens.
Daren Sammy, the West Indies white-ball coach, is optimistic that the five-match series against the Rhinos will help the team define roles and assess their depth.
“The Nepal tour couldn’t have come at a better time,” Sammy stated. “It provides us an opportunity to fine-tune our T20 World Cup squad, clarifying roles and personnel.”
“Moreover, with nine players in the IPL, we can truly test and stretch the depth of our T20 team,” he added.
The team will be led by Roston Chase, who has yet to secure a regular spot in the T20I setup. However, he shone in his last T20I against Australia in Perth, scoring a brisk 37 and helping West Indies post a challenging 220/6. He also took 2/19, leading his team to a 37-run victory.
Desmond Haynes, the West Indies lead selector, lauded Chase for his work ethic and leadership skills.
“Chase has consistently demonstrated an impressive work ethic and proven leadership qualities over the past few years,” Haynes said in a statement. “Since making his T20I debut for West Indies against Bangladesh in October 2021, Chase has made significant progress.”
West Indies A Squad for the Nepal Tour:
Roston Chase (c), Alick Athanaze (vc), Fabian Allen, Kadeem Alleyne, Joshua Bishop, Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles, Mark Deyal, Andre Fletcher, Matthew Forde, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh
The A team will be coached by former West Indies international Floyd Reifer, with Rayon Griffith serving as his assistant.
West Indies are in Group C of the T20 World Cup, alongside Uganda, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Afghanistan. Their campaign kicks off against PNG in Providence on June 2.