St John’s, Antigua – Members of the West Indies Women’s team are delighted to be have been awarded Central Retainer Contracts. On Monday, the West Indies Cricket Board announced that Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Merissa Aguilleira, Anisa Mohammed, Stacy-Ann King and Shanel Daley would be the six players to be contracted.
Speaking on Wednesday Aguilleira, Dottin and Taylor said they were thrilled. For Aguilleira, the inspirational captain and wicketkeeper, the news was a great birthday ‘gift’ as she celebrated her 25th birthday on Tuesday.
“It was a great birthday gift for me. When I got the news I was on my way to training and I was very happy. I went to the training field thinking I now have to dig deeper and deliver even more for the team. I can now dedicate even more time to training and there is less stress about financial worries. This is a major step forward for women’s cricket in the West Indies and a major investment in the development of the young females across the Caribbean. It is also a major step forward for women’s cricket on the world stage,” said the Trinidadian.
The 19 year-old Dottin is a multi-talented sportswoman, having represented Barbados with distinction at cricket, football and track & field. The powerful right-handed batter holds two world records for the fastest half-century by a woman in a T20 International, and the fastest century by a man or woman in a T20 International.
She said: “It is great to see the WICB is looking out for the girls. We work so hard and we are pleased with this show of support. On behalf of everyone I would like to say thanks for looking out for us. I promise we will continue to do West Indies proud. This is a first for West Indies cricket and for me to secure an ‘A’ contract is a result of my hard work and commitment to the game. I can now focus fully on my fitness and readiness for international cricket.”
Taylor, 19, is a right-handed opener and right-arm off-spinner. She is one of the leading players in world cricket – ranked in the Top 10 batters and Top 5 all-rounders in One Day Internationals. Earlier this year she was nominated for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award.
“This is a major step and I’m really excited. Before I didn’t have a job, I was going to school, so this is my first profession, as a cricketer. The work has now started. I have to work doubly hard as I did before and look to bring greater reward to West Indies cricket. A lot will be expected of us as players on and off the field and I have to lead by example. As players we have been working hard and now we have to double up and lift West Indies cricket closer to the top,” the Jamaica said.
The West Indies Women will have their next international assignment in India in January. They will play five One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals.
TOUR SCHEDULE
January 3: arrive Mumbai
January 8: warm-up match v BCCI President’s XI at BKC
January 10: 1st One-Day International at Mumbai
January 13: 2nd One-Day International at Baroda
January 15: 3rd One-Day International at Baroda
January 18: 4th One-Day International at Rajkot
January 19: 5th One-Day International at Rajkot
January 22: 1st T20 International at Ahmedabad
January 23: 2nd T20 International at Ahmedabad
January 24: 3rd T20 International at Ahmedabad
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