Chief Selector Harper talks up West Indies T20 potential

Cricket West Indies (CWI) Chief Selector, Roger Harper, is confident that once West Indies T20 team play to potential, they have the ability to dominate any team in the world. Harper’s comments came as the West Indies are set to depart later this month for a three-match T20I series in New Zealand.

Despite being two-time World T20 champions and current holders of the trophy, West Indies languish ninth on the rankings, as opposed to their upcoming competitors who are sixth.

Since the World T20 triumph in 2016, the Caribbean side has played 18 bilateral series and won only seven, lost ten and drew one.

In their last T20 series in New Zealand, West Indies lost 0-2, with one match being rained out. Overall, their record in New Zealand is six defeats in eight matches, with the other being a no-result.

This makes for an intriguing series. Despite the tag of World T20 champions, West Indies could start as underdogs, but Harper feels their potential makes them a threat.

“Once we play as we can and be very competitive, we have a very good chance of winning against any team in the world and I expect the fact that you have a number of young players playing in the IPL, getting match practice,” Harper told News Room Sport during an exclusive interview recently.

With CPL and the IPL giving West Indies players a chance at match practice, Harper contented it should bode well for their preparation.

“Some of the players who did not make the IPL, came out of the CPL with some cricket, so the thing is, they won’t have an opportunity to play together prior to taking on New Zealand but I expect that team will equip themselves very well.”

West Indies are set to have an extended camp in New Zealand ahead of facing the hosts in three T20s and two Test matches in November-December.

The 15-man Test squad along with five reserves, and a 14-man T20 squad will leave for New Zealand on October 27.

The T20Is will be the start of an 11-month schedule of matches building up to the ICC T20 World Cup, rescheduled to October 2021 in India.