WI Women preparing for T20 World Cup

West Indies Women will intensify preparations for the defense of their Twenty20 World Cup title when they undergo a month-long training camp in St. John’s, Antigua,  starting next week.

Fourteen players, headed by captain Stafanie Taylor, will be put through their paces at the April 30 to May 30 camp by head coach Hendy Springer and his assistant Stuart Williams.

Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, said the camp was an important phase of the team’s preparation as it allowed them to access key resources.

“CWI is cognizant of the difficulties and challenges faced by the Women cricketers in getting the best training facilities and world class support in their individual territories,” said Adams. “Therefore, this is a move by CWI to address that issue and to get them the relevant support staff to best prepare them for international cricket.”

Batsman Kyshona Knight and leg-spinner Afy Fletcher will take no part in the camp because of injury while senior all-rounder Deandra Dottin is unavailable due to personal reasons.

Teenager Shabika Gajnabi, who has led Guyana’s Under-19 side for the last two years, is the lone new face in the training squad.

The 17-year-old batsman will be joined by the likes of teenaged opener Hayley Matthews, former skipper Merissa Aguilleira and Shamilia Connell, all of whom toured New Zealand recently.

West Indies will play host to the ICC T20 World Cup from November 9-24.

SQUAD – Stafanie Taylor, Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Shabika Gajnabi, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Reniece Boyce, Felicia Walters, Akeira Peters, Shekera Selman.