Roston Chase emphasized that the West Indies could not afford any slip-ups as they face Uganda in their second Group C match of the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup on Saturday night at the Guyana National Stadium.
The 32-year-old batting all-rounder played a crucial role in helping West Indies secure a five-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea in their tournament opener. Chase’s unbeaten 42 off 27 balls guided the team to victory with six balls remaining in a tight contest at the same venue last Sunday.
Uganda, participating in their first global tournament, is buoyed by their three-wicket win over Papua New Guinea in a low-scoring match on Wednesday. With nothing to lose, they could be dangerous opponents. The recent upsets, such as the United States defeating Pakistan and Canada beating Ireland, have set the tone for unexpected results in the tournament.
Chase highlighted the need for vigilance, referencing the contract law principle of “caveat emptor” (let the buyer beware), as the West Indies must avoid complacency in a group that includes strong teams like Afghanistan and New Zealand.
Areas for improvement
“I just think that it’s a World Cup, so you can’t underestimate any team,” Chase said during a pre-match news conference. “Every team is as strong as any other team — but I just think for us, it’s a case where we have to improve our dot-ball percentage, especially in the middle overs.”
Chase acknowledged the challenging pitch conditions they faced in the first game and stressed the importance of maintaining composure during the middle overs. “The pitch is a difficult one that we played on in the first game, so I think it’s a case where we just need to not panic too quickly — just try to stabilize the middle overs, because we have a lot of power in the back end to kind of make up for it.”
Known as a “crisis man” for the West Indies in longer formats, Chase has adapted his game to become a capable, if not explosive, T20 player. He cherishes the opportunity to take on challenging roles and believes that overcoming difficult situations earns greater appreciation from teammates, coaches, and fans.
“In my cricketing career I’ve always been one to get some hard tasks, so I really cherish the opportunity and the experiences,” he said. “I think your teammates, coaches, and especially the fans, rate you more and appreciate you more when you come through these hard times.”
Comparisons to Marlon Samuels
Lead West Indies selector Desmond Haynes and others have compared Chase’s role in the current line-up to that of former batting all-rounder Marlon Samuels, who played a pivotal role in the West Indies’ T20 World Cup victories in 2012 and 2016. However, Chase prefers to chart his own course.
“There could only be one Marlon Samuels and one Roston Chase,” he said. “If people want to call it the Marlon Samuels role, I have no problem with that. He’s won two world titles playing that role and being the Man-of-the-Match in two of the finals. But I’m my own player. I don’t see it as his role; I see it as my own role.”
Team Squads:
West Indies: Rovman Powell (captain), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd.
Uganda: Brian Masaba (captain), Fred Achelam, Riazat Ali Shah, Bilal Hassun, Cosmas Kyewuta, Juma Miyaji, Roger Mukasa, Dinesh Nakrani, Frank Nsubuga, Robinson Obuya, Ronak Patel, Alpesh Ramjani, Henry Ssenyondo, Simon Ssesazi, Kenneth Waiswa.
