Cricket West Indies name squad for training camp, ahead of series with Pakistan

The Cricket West Indies Selection Panel has announced a 20-strong squad for a national training camp, ahead of Windies' upcoming series against Pakistan.



The two-week long camp will be held in Antigua, with net sessions beginning on 9 January, at the Coolidge Cricket Ground. The selected 20 players include 14 of the 15 members part of West Indies World T20 team, where they reached the semi-finals, on home soil, but were unable to defend the title. Seamer Britney Cooper is the only member from that campaign who has not been selected. Rashada Williams, a 21-year-old opening batter from Jamaica, meanwhile has been called up for the national training camp for the first time.



Chairman of Selectors, Courtney Browne commented on the selection and the teams aims moving forward. Speaking to Cricket West Indies, she said, "After a decent and competitive run at the ICC T20 World Cup 2018, the Windies women will be expected to build on that momentum going into the one-dayers and T20 series against Pakistan. The team needs to improve its showing in ODI cricket especially, and we want to see mark improvement in this format. The women have been involved in a number of strategic camps over the last year and we have seen improvements, as reflected during the T20 World Cup, particularly in the fielding."



She further added, "Coming into the squad for the first time is young, opening bat Rashada Williams, who impressed the selectors with her solid technique and her ability against spin bowling. The panel believes with the help of the coaching staff, she can develop into a very good player that can add solidity."



Browne ended what she had to say with positive words for the Windies squad, saying, "We wish Stafanie Taylor and her team all the very best for this tour, and throughout 2019."



While the camp has already begun, skipper Taylor will not be participating in it due to her commitment to the Women's Big Bash League team, Sydney Thunder. Hayley Matthews -who also plays in the WBBL for Hobart Hurricanes- will be in doubt for this camp as well, having sustained an injury towards the start of the WBBL, that saw her sidelined for the rest of the season.



Squad: Stafanie Taylor (Captain), Merissa Aguilleira, Reniece Boyce, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Qiana Joseph, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Natasha McLean, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Akeira Peters, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams