West Indies white-ball head coach Daren Sammy has expressed his eagerness to welcome fast bowler Shamar Joseph into his squad once he has recovered from injury.
Sammy acknowledged that Joseph’s remarkable performances in the two-Test series against world champions Australia have created a selection dilemma for the West Indies team.
Sammy believes that the 24-year-old fast bowler has the potential to become an all-format player and anticipates his inclusion in the squad for the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup, scheduled for June in the Caribbean and the United States.
Will definitely be an all-format player
He stated, “He will definitely be an all-format player. I can’t wait to get my hands on him in this squad. But look, everything has a process to it. That’s the way myself and the chairman of selectors operate. What he’s done, he’s created a really good headache for me with the World Cup coming up, building forward in the ODI team.”
Sammy also mentioned the development of a core group of players in all formats, emphasizing the importance of having multiple options for selection.
Shamar Joseph gained worldwide attention when he took seven wickets for 68 runs in the second Test against Australia, leading West Indies to a historic eight-run victory at the Gabba in Brisbane. This outstanding performance followed his five-wicket haul in his debut Test in Adelaide, where he dismissed Steven Smith with his first ball.
A rising star in West Indies cricket
Joseph received the Player-of-the-Series award for his exceptional contributions. Despite his limited experience in List A and Twenty20 matches, his performances have positioned him as a rising star in West Indies cricket.
Although Joseph was not included in the West Indies squads for the upcoming One-Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals due to a toe injury sustained during the second Test, Sammy is excited about the prospect of working with him in the future.
Sammy will have the opportunity to mentor Joseph when the fast bowler joins the Pakistan Super League’s Peshawar Zalmi, where Sammy serves as the coach.
The West Indies coaching staff is mindful of Joseph’s well-being and is keen to ensure that he is fully recovered and prepared for future international assignments.
