Five Guyanese selected for West Indies women duties

Cricket West Indies Selection Panel on Thursday named the 16-member West Indies Women’s squad to play in a T20 International (T20I) Tri-Series against South Africa and India in East London from 19 to 30 January 2023 as part of their final preparations for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in February.

Among the 16 are five Guyanese – Shemaine Campbelle, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, and Kaysia Schultz.

The West Indies Women will play at least four matches, playing two matches each against hosts South Africa and India.

The two leading teams will then play each other in the Tri-Series Final at Buffalo Park on 2 February. ​ West Indies will also play a warm-up match against South Africa ahead of the Tri-Series at Beacon Bay on 16 January.

Lead Selector Ann Browne-John said: “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.

Browne-John added: “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.”

All matches in the Tri-Series will be played at Buffalo Park in East London.

Final squads for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa must be submitted by 2 February.

The eighth edition of the marquee ICC Women’s Event will begin on 10 February 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 26 February. ​(CWI)

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, Rashada Williams

Match Schedule

16 January: Warm-up Match vs South Africa, Beacon Bay

T20I Tri-Series West Indies Match Schedule – all matches are to be played at Buffalo Park, East London

21 January: vs South Africa, 3 pm local time (9 am Eastern Caribbean/8 am Jamaica)

23 January: vs India, 7 pm local time (1 pm Eastern Caribbean/12noon Jamaica)

25 January: vs South Africa, 3 pm local time (9 am Eastern Caribbean/8 am Jamaica)

30 January: vs India, 3 pm local time (9 am Eastern Caribbean/8 am Jamaica)

2 February: ​ Tri-Series Final, 3 pm local time (9 am Eastern Caribbean/8 am Jamaica)

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Group 2 West Indies Match schedule

13 February: vs England, Boland Park, Paarl, 3 pm (9 am Eastern Caribbean/8 am Jamaica)

15 February: vs India, Newlands, Cape Town, 3 pm (9 am Eastern Caribbean/8 am Jamaica)

17 February: vs Ireland, Newlands, Cape Town, 7 pm (1 pm Eastern Caribbean/12noon Jamaica)

19 February: vs Pakistan, Boland Park, Paarl, 3 pm (9 am Eastern Caribbean/8 am Jamaica)