West Indies’ batsman Shimron Hetmyer runs between wickets against Sri Lanka during their second Twenty20
cricket match in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Friday, March 6, 2020. Associated Press / Eranga Jayawardena
The side is captained by Jason Holder
and includes regular players Kraigg
Braithwaite, Roston Chase, Shai Hope
and Kemar Roach.
Jermaine Blackwood, who was
dropped from the team three years
ago, has returned following his heavy
scoring in the recent West Indies First-
Class Championship.
The new faces are middle-order
batsman Nkrumah Bonner, making
his Test squad debut after being one of
the leading batsmen in the 2020 West
Caribbean L 28 ife, June 12-18, 2020
ed from the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic.”
The measures, adopted following
“close consultation with all stakeholders,”
will also extend to funding
for territorial boards, territorial
board franchises along with the players
association, West Indies Players
Association.
Retainers and allowances for directors
and executive management are
also being slashed by half.
CWI approved the measures during
a board of directors meeting held
by teleconference recently, acting on
recommendations put forward by its
Financial Strategy Advisors Committee
established in April and chaired
by Jamaica Cricket Association President,
Wilford “Billy” Heaven.
The board said it did not envisage
the measures lasting beyond “three
to six months.”
CWI President, Ricky Skerritt
said the current environment had
required a “huge sacrifice” from the
entire West Indies cricket fraternity.
“This pandemic is hurting every
West Indian and this decision to cut
staff and players incomes has been a
very difficult one to make, one that
will impact so many members of the
cricketing family around the Caribbean”
the CWI president said.
With the outbreak of COVID-19
forcing a halt to cricket globally,
CWI faces the prospect of having to
postpone home tours by South Africa
and New Zealand both of which were
expected to boost the organization’s
finances.
By Azad Ali
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has
agreed in principle to allow the West
Indies team to tour England for a
three-month Test series, pending the
UK government’s approval and also
some finer details to be worked out
with the England and Wales Cricket
Board (ECB).
This is according to Johnny Grave,
CEO of CWI who said the board of
directors has given the approval in
principle for the tour.
Batsman Jermaine Blackwood and
rookie fast bowler Oshane Thomas
are among the 25-man squad. He was
named among the 11 reserves.
Blackwood, 28, became a fixture in
the Test side after making his debut
in 2014 but despite a century and ten
half centuries in 28 Tests, displayed
a reputation for rash stroke-play and
reckless dismissals.
He helped West Indies to a historic
win at Leeds on their last tour of England
in 2017 but then managed only
15 runs from his next five innings
and was axed.
US and triggered many across
the world, including leading
athletes, to join calls for an end
to racism.
Sammy said: “Right now if
the cricket world is not standing
against the injustice against
people of color after seeing the
last video of that foot down the
(neck) of my brother you are
also part of the problem.”
“ICC and all other boards are
you guys not seeing what’s happening
to people like me? Are
you going to speak out against
the social injustice against my
kind? This is not only about
Indies Championship with 523 runs in
seven matches at an average of 58.11;
and 22-year-old fast bowler Chemar
Holder, the leading fast bowler in
the West Indies Championship with
36 wickets in eight matches at 18.91
each, and a member of the successful
ICC Under-19 World Cup winning side
in 2016.
Chief selector Roger Harper has
expressed high hopes for the newcomers
saying that Chemar Holder
is an exciting young fast bowler, who
is coming off an excellent domestic
First- Class season. He should enjoying
America. This happens every
day #Black Lives Matter now
is not the time to be silent. I
wanna hear u,” the St Lucian
all-rounder added.
“For too long black people
have suffered. I’m all the way in
St Lucia and I’m frustrated. If
you see as teammate then you
see #GeorgeFloyd. Can you be
part of the change by showing
your support?” Sammy said.
Sammy, who led the West
Indies to a T20 World Cup victory
in 2016, encourage cricketing
bodies to show they cared
by supporting the #Black Lives-
Matter movement.
bowling in England.
Subject to the final approval of the
UK government, the West Indies will
defend the Wisden Trophy, starting
on July 8. The players, who will all be
tested for COVID-19 next week, are
scheduled to fly to England on private
charters.
CWI selectors have also chosen 11
reserves to accompany the squad on
the tour, among them Sunil Ambris
and Shannon Gabriel, to train and
help prepare the Test squad and ensure
replacements are available in case of
any injury.
Continued from Page 27
West Indies captain Darren Sammy. Associated Press /
Rob Griffi th, File
Continued from Page 27
Continued from Page 27
KEY BATSMEN OPT OUT OF UK TOUR
Calls for ICC to speak out
against racism
Salary cuts
CWI okays tour