By Akeem Greene
This year’s World T20 will see an increase in the size of the contingent a cricket team will travel with to an International Cricket Council (ICC) event.
According to Claire Furlong, ICC’s General Manager for Marketing and Communications, there will be in a change in norm, due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an invited comment, Furlong told News Room Sport: “Squads for ICC events are usually 23 (15 players and 8 support staff). This has been expanded to 30 (splits how a team requires) for this event.”
Logistically, it would be a difficult situation not to have injury replacements at the World T20, and those replacement players having to travel and join teams.
There is also the unfortunate possibility players or support staff returning positive results and a high chance of no net bowlers from the territory.
The General Manager further indicated that those 30 names would have to be submitted to the ICC 30 days from the start of the event.
The World T20 was to be held in India, but was shifted to the United Arab Emirates and Oman, and will be held from October 17 to November 14.
Meanwhile, Cricket West Indies Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Johnny Grave, revealed that on September 17, West Indies squad for the World T20 will be selected.
Grave made the announcement while speaking on Barbados radio programme, Mason and Guest, on Tuesday evening. He highlighted that he personally believes there might not be significant changes to the current 18-man provisional squad unless there are impressive performances in the Caribbean Premier League, which ends September 15.
“We got an 18-man squad that was picked for these matches and listening to Roger Harper and Phil Simmons, it is really that 18-man squad they are looking at to try and jell, but there will always be opportunities for players in CPL to make the last claim for a position in the final squad. I would be surprised if anyone came into the squad outside of that pool of 18.”
Grave added, “Certainly, from a Cricket West Indies point of view, we want everyone in the region available for selection, we want to make the job for the selectors harder than it is.”
Defending champions West Indies have been drafted in Group One of the ICC Men’s World T20 later this year, alongside England, Australia and South Africa and the other two qualifers- the winner of Group A and the runner-up of Group B.
