Cricket West Indies has announced a formidable 15-member ‘A’ squad for their upcoming tour of Nepal, featuring a host of experienced T20 specialists. The tour, scheduled for later this month, marks the first time a West Indian side will visit Nepal and serves as a crucial preparation phase for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Led by Roston Chase, the squad boasts a wealth of talent, including Fabian Allen, Johnson Charles, Mark Deyal, Andre Fletcher, Obed McCoy, and Hayden Walsh. Chase, initially known as a Test specialist, has made significant strides in T20 cricket since his debut in 2021.
Desmond Haynes, West Indies’ lead selector, emphasized the importance of the tour for players not involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL). “It provides an invaluable opportunity to get our players back on the park playing competitive T20 cricket,” he said. “It also allows us to expose emerging prospects.”
The World Cup, to be co-hosted by the USA and West Indies in June, will feature Nepal among the 20 participating teams. West Indies white-ball coach Daren Sammy believes the Nepal tour will be crucial in refining the World Cup squad. “It offers us a chance to define roles and personnel more clearly,” he said.
Nine West Indians are currently participating in the IPL, including Andre Russell, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, and Rovman Powell. Their performances in the IPL will be closely monitored as West Indies seeks to gauge the depth of its T20 team.
The West Indies ‘A’ squad will be coached by Floyd Reifer, assisted by Rayon Griffith. The tour will consist of five T20 matches, providing ample opportunities for the players to showcase their skills and prepare for the upcoming World Cup.
