The West Indies Women will be without Barbadian all-rounder Deandra Dottin for their ICC World Cup Qualifiers, which take place next month in Pakistan.
Alongside the experienced 32-year-old watching from the sidelines will be Nerissa Crafton and Djenaba Joseph, who both miss out due to injury. Former West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor has recovered from injury and is back in the fifteen-member squad, which is a much-needed boost to the Women in Maroon, as she averages 43.11 in One Day International (ODI) cricket.
Joining the Jamaican in the squad is Chinelle Henry, who is also back from injury, and Rashada Williams, who has been recalled due to her performances in the recently concluded CG United Women’s Super50 Cup. The 28-year-old Jamaican averaged 42.8 with the bat across five innings, scoring two half-centuries and a top score of 86 runs against the Leeward Islands Women. She also managed three dismissals with the gloves.
The West Indies Women will begin their campaign on April 9th against Scotland at the LCCA Stadium, followed by matches against Ireland, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Thailand.
Head Coach Shane Deitz laid out his expectations for the team and revealed that he is confident the side is ready for what awaits them.
“It’s going to be a tough tournament with some really good teams to play against, but we are right up for the challenge,” the 49-year-old Australian said. “We know how important it is to qualify for the World Cup in India later in the year, but obviously, all the teams will be doing everything they can to get those two spots in the World Cup.”
He added, “We’ve prepared well and played some good cricket in the last series against Bangladesh. We have to be at our best in every game, prepare well off the field, trust our skills, play our best cricket, and the result will take care of itself.”
Captain Hayley Matthews echoed his sentiments and highlighted the team’s ultimate focus on the task ahead.
“As we head into the World Cup Qualifiers, we know we’ve prepared well for this moment. The team environment feels like a family, and we’ve all been enjoying ourselves out on the park,” she said.
The Barbadian captain added, “We trust our skills and each other and are staying focused on playing our best cricket without any distractions. Winning this is a big goal for us as a team, and we’re confident in our chances to perform at a high level.”
The team is scheduled to depart today for a pre-tournament camp in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before moving on to Pakistan to compete for one of two final qualification spots for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, which will be hosted in India from October to November this year.
All 15 games in the round-robin tournament will be played in Lahore, Pakistan, at the Gaddafi Stadium and Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) Stadium.
West Indies Women’s Squad:
Hayley Matthews (captain), Shemaine Campbelle (vice-captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams.
ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025 – West Indies Match Schedule:
- 9 April: West Indies vs Scotland – LCCA Stadium (12:30 a.m. AST / 9:30 a.m. PKT)
- 11 April: Ireland vs West Indies – Gaddafi Stadium (12:30 a.m. AST / 9:30 a.m. PKT)
- 14 April: Pakistan vs West Indies – Gaddafi Stadium (5:00 a.m. AST / 2:00 p.m. PKT)
- 17 April: Bangladesh vs West Indies – LCCA Stadium (12:30 a.m. AST / 9:30 a.m. PKT)
- 19 April: West Indies vs Thailand – Gaddafi Stadium (5:00 a.m. AST / 2:00 p.m. PKT)
