分类： sports

Cricket West Indies has unveiled its white ball squads for the upcoming series against Bangladesh, rewarding several emerging players who impressed during the recent tour of Nepal. The series, scheduled to take place between October 18 and 31 in Dhaka and Chattogram, will feature three ODIs and three T20Is. Notably, former West Indies Under-19 captain Ackeem Auguste has earned his maiden call-up to the ODI squad, while left-arm pacer Ramon Simmonds and wicketkeeper-batsman Amir Jangoo have been included in the T20I team. Auguste, who was the third-highest run-scorer in the Nepal T20I series, replaces Jewel Andrew, who failed to make an impact. The ODI squad also sees the return of Alick Athanaze, replacing the injured Evin Lewis, and left-arm spinner Khary Pierre, who steps in for Matthew Forde. Head coach Daren Sammy emphasized the importance of maintaining a winning mentality and building team cohesion as the West Indies prepare for the 2027 World Cup. Meanwhile, Jangoo, the top run-scorer in Nepal, and Simmonds, who took four wickets in his debut series, have been drafted into the T20I squad. Both players, along with Auguste, Keacy Carty, Gudakesh Motie, and Sherfane Rutherford, have been sent to a preparatory camp at the Super Kings Academy in Chennai to acclimatize to sub-continent conditions ahead of the series. CWI’s Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, highlighted the significance of this preparation, especially with the 2026 T20 World Cup set to be held in India and Sri Lanka. The squads reflect a blend of youth and experience as the West Indies aim to build momentum for future global tournaments.

The Barbados Football Association (BFA) has ushered in a new era of leadership with the appointment of Nicholas Branker as its General Secretary. Branker, a seasoned sports administrator and former General Manager of Automotive Art, officially took over the role on October 1, succeeding Christine Rock, who had been acting in the position. His introduction to the public was marked by a media conference held at the BFA’s Wildey Technical Centre.

West Indies Test captain Roston Chase has acknowledged that a series of poor performances has significantly shaken the team’s confidence. However, he remains hopeful that they can reverse their fortunes in the second Test, set to begin on Friday. The West Indies enter this crucial match on a four-match losing streak, with their last Test victory dating back to early January when they defeated Pakistan. Compounding their struggles, their recent four Test defeats have all concluded within three days, including a crushing innings and 140-run loss in the opening Test. Chase emphasized that his team has the potential to turn the tide and level the series at 1-1. Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Thursday, Chase highlighted the importance of a strong batting performance to rebuild the team’s morale. He stated, ‘We’re down right now, but change has to start somewhere. It begins with belief and mindset. We need to motivate each other to play positive cricket and overcome this slump.’ Chase pointed out that a single significant innings could reignite the players’ confidence. ‘Once you get that big score—a century or a solid fifty—it reminds you that you’re capable of performing at this level,’ he added. Despite the recent setbacks, Chase affirmed that the team trusts in their abilities and skills to compete at the highest level. He stressed the need to focus on the present moment and avoid dwelling on past failures. ‘The key is to stay in the now, play each ball on its merit, and maintain a positive mindset at the crease,’ Chase concluded. (CMC)