A pivotal stretch in the international calendar begins as the Cricket West Indies women’s team prepares to host Sri Lanka women’s cricket team in a three-match One Day International series from February 20-25 at the National Cricket Stadium in St. George’s.
The contest represents far more than a bilateral encounter. It is a strategic opportunity for the regional side to climb the standings in the ICC Women’s Championship, laying groundwork for demanding assignments later this year against Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Pakistan.
Captain returns, leadership evolves
At the helm is Hayley Matthews, fully recovered from the shoulder injury that sidelined her last June and forced her to miss the Women’s Caribbean Premier League. Her return restores both stability and star power to the line-up.
Supporting her is newly appointed vice-captain Chinelle Henry, whose elevation signals a generational shift in leadership. The all-rounder replaces veteran wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbelle, with her promotion reflecting consistent performances and growing influence across international and franchise cricket.
A powerful reinforcement
The squad also welcomes back dynamic all-rounder Deandra Dottin, absent for much of 2025 due to injury. Her return injects experience and firepower after missing key tournaments, including the World Cup Qualifiers in Pakistan and subsequent tours of England and South Africa.
Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe emphasized the broader significance of the home series.
“This home series is a cornerstone event, not just for team preparation but for the continued elevation of women’s cricket across the Caribbean. Every match played here is an investment in our future. It is about providing a visible, high-performance pathway that shows every young woman in the region what is possible and we are committed to the mission of growing the game at every level, and series like this are essential to that mission.”
He also highlighted the symbolic value of playing before home supporters.
“We are thrilled to have Chinelle Henry as our new vice-captain to support captain Hayley Matthews in leading the side and express our thanks to Shemaine Campbelle who previously held the vice-captaincy. Playing in front of our home fans in Grenada adds a profound layer of significance so we want our team to feel the pride of the Maroon legacy and feed off that energy to inspire the next generation of West Indies stars.”
Redemption on home soil
Head coach Shane Deitz sees the series as a chance to settle unfinished business after Sri Lanka’s triumph in their 2024 ODI meeting.
“We’re excited to have this series against Sri Lanka, who are a really good team. They beat us in the ODI series in Sri Lanka back in 2024, so we owe them one and now we get them on our home turf.”
“We’re looking forward to a brilliant series against a team currently ranked higher than us in ODIs, so it’ll be tough and hard fought. The girls are excited about competing, putting on a good show and playing some great cricket for all our fans here in the Caribbean.”
Sri Lanka enter ranked sixth in ODIs, with the West Indies ninth, a gap the hosts are determined to close.
Preparation meets opportunity
The Maroon Warriors’ readiness has been sharpened through intensive preparation, including two high-performance camps in Antigua and specialized training at the Super Kings Academy in Chennai, India. These initiatives reflect a deliberate push to deepen the region’s women’s cricket talent pool ahead of a demanding international schedule.
As the first ball approaches in Grenada, the series stands as both a test and a statement: a chance for the West Indies Women to reassert themselves, inspire a new generation, and transform preparation into results on the field.
West Indies Women’s ODI Squad: Hayley Matthews (captain), Chinelle Henry (vice captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Chemaine Campbelle, Jahzara Claxton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Jannillea Glasgow, Realeanna Grimmond, Shawnisha Hector, Qiana Joseph, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Shunelle Sawh, Stafanie Taylor.
Team Management Unit: Head Coach: Shane Deitz, Team Manager: Sheena Gooding, Assistant Coach: Ryan Austin, Assistant Coach: Damien Wright, Assistant Coach: Shane Dowrich, Physiotherapist: Ashley Stephens, Strength & Conditioning Coach: Hector Martinez Charles, Performance Coach: Dr. Nadine Sammy.
Media & Content Officer: Nicholas Maitland.
Series Schedule: (All matches will be played at the National Cricket Stadium)
1st ODI – Friday, February 20 – 9:30 AM
2nd ODI – Sunday, February 22 – 9:30 AM
3rd ODI – Wednesday, February 25 – 9:30 AM
1st T20I – Saturday, February 28 – 1PM
2nd T20I – Sunday, March 1 – 1PM
3rd T20I – Tuesday, March 3 – 1PM
