As part of Cricket West Indies’ continued support to bring international cricket back home to Pakistan, the Windies Women’s Team has agreed to play in three T20I matches in Karachi, prior to the three-match ICC Women’s Championship ODI matches in the UAE.
The three T20Is will be played on January 31, and February 1 and 3 at the Southend Club before the two sides will go head to head in three ODIs in Dubai on February 7, 9 and 11. The first ODI will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DISC), while the second and third ODIs will be played at the ICC Academy.
As part of their series preparation, the Windies Women will arrive in Dubai on January 26 for a training and acclimatisation camp, before traveling to Karachi on January 30.
Commenting on the tour, CWI Chief Executive Officer, Johnny Grave, said: “Following the successful hosting of the Windies Men’s team in Pakistan in April 2018, we have confirmed to the PCB that our Windies Women’s squad will now also play a three-match T20I series in Karachi too.”
“This tour is a further major step for our friends at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to bring their cricket back home, and we are pleased that our players and support staff have recognised this and agreed to play the T20Is in Pakistan.”
Grave added: “The security plan arranged by the PCB is the exactly the same level that the Windies Men’s team had last year and Independent security advisors, Eastern Star International (ESI) have confirmed to both CWI and WIPA that they are satisfied that the risk is manageable and can be mitigated to an acceptable level.
“We made it very clear to the players and support staff that should any of them have any personal reservations about this Tour, that we fully understand and accept their position.”
Following the detailed security plan from the PCB and the independent security assessment from Eastern Star International (ESI), Stafanie Taylor has opted out of touring Pakistan and will join the team for the ICC Women’s Championship ODIs in Dubai.
Merissa Aguilleira will take over as captain for the T20Is in Pakistan with Shakera Selman as vice-captain. Stafanie Taylor will resume as captain for the ODIs in Dubai.
Cricket West Indies Chairman of Selectors, Courtney Browne, stated, “After a decent and competitive ICC World T20, the Windies Women will be expected to build on that momentum going into the away tour against Pakistan. The team needs to improve its showing in ODI cricket especially and the panel is expecting to see marked improvements during the ODI series. The team has been based at our high-performance Centre in Antigua over the last year and we have seen improvements, as reflected in the World T20, particularly in their fielding.”
On squad selection, Browne added, “Coming into the squad for the first time is young opening batter Rashada Williams from Jamaica, who has impressed the selectors with her solid technique and her ability to play spin, along with off-spinner Karishma Ramharack, who has been rewarded for her consistency in regional cricket. The panel takes this opportunity to wish team all the very best for their first tour of 2019.”
The Windies Women are currently ranked fourth in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings, while Pakistan are ranked seventh. In the ODI rankings, the West Indies are sixth and Pakistan seventh.
After three rounds of the ICC Women’s Championship, the West Indies are sitting in fourth position on nine points with four wins and as many defeats, while Pakistan is sixth on eight points with four wins and five losses.
Windies Women Squad for Pakistan Tour 2019: Stafanie Taylor (ODIs only), Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight,
Natasha McClean, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman and Rashada Williams.
Karishma Ramharack is a replacement for Hayley Matthews who suffered medial knee ligament damage to her right knee during the WBBL in early December. Hayley still requires a further 3-4 weeks of therapy before she can resume playing.
Series schedule:
31 January – 1st T20I, Southend Club, Karachi. Start time 11:00h Pakistan time
1 February – 2nd T20I, Southend Club, Karachi. Start time 11:00h Pakistan time
3 February – 3rd T20I, Southend Club, Karachi. Star time 11:00h Pakistan time
7 February – 1st ODI (ICC Women’s Championship), DISC. Start time 09:30h Dubai time
9 February – 2nd ODI, (ICC Women’s Championship), ICC Academy. Start time 09:30h Dubai time
11 February – 3rd ODI (ICC Women’s Championship), ICC Academy. Start time 09:30h Dubai time
