In an exciting development for women’s cricket in the Caribbean, veteran batsmen Stafanie Taylor, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, and Britney Cooper are set to headline the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s Super50 Cup and T20 Blaze tournaments.
However, West Indies captain Hayley Matthews will be notably absent from the tournament, as she is committed to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) where she will represent Mumbai Indians.
Taylor, leading the Jamaica squad, will be joined by esteemed players Rashada Williams, Natasha McLean, Vanessa Watts, and Chedean Nation. Similarly, Campbelle will captain Guyana, while Cooper takes charge of Trinidad and Tobago. Connell will feature for reigning double champions Barbados, led by Kycia Knight.
Excellent preparation for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
Despite Matthews’ absence, CWI’s director of cricket, Miles Bascombe, expressed confidence in her participation in the WPL, citing it as excellent preparation for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup later in the year.
The tournament line-up features an array of talent, including international players such as Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, Ashmini Munisar, and Karishma Ramharack, among others. Notably, uncapped player Amanda Edwards will lead Leeward Islands, while Windward Islands will be captained by West Indies leg-spinner Afy Fletcher.
Bascombe highlighted the significance of this year’s tournaments in professionalizing the women’s cricket pathway, particularly with the introduction of regionally contracted women from October 1, 2024.
The Women’s Super50 will commence at Warner Park, Conaree Cricket Centre, and St Paul’s Sports Complex on Monday, with the T20 Blaze scheduled to begin at Warner Park on March 17. As anticipation builds, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the opportunity to witness the talent and excitement that the women’s cricket scene in the Caribbean has to offer.
Read more: CWI brings back women’s cricket action to St. Kitts with CG United Suer50 Cup and T20 Blaze
