Alick Athanaze selected for West Indies T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the squads for the highly anticipated West Indies Senior Men’s T20 International (T20I) and One Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka, with Dominican cricketer Alick Athanaze making the cut for both formats.

The T20I squad, led by Captain Rovman Powell and Vice-Captain Roston Chase, will face Sri Lanka from October 10 to 17, 2024. The West Indies team, fresh off a 3-0 series sweep against South Africa, has climbed to fourth place in the rankings, establishing themselves as formidable contenders on the global stage. The absence of senior players like Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Akeal Hosein, and Shimron Hetmyer has opened opportunities for new and returning players, including Athanaze.

Head Coach, Daren Sammy, emphasized the importance of this series in evaluating players for key roles and understanding the conditions ahead of future ICC Tournaments. “The tour of Sri Lanka gives us a chance to test our depth and assess players in different situations, especially with several senior players missing out for various reasons, including a need for rest and rehabilitation from injury. We are confident in the squad’s ability to compete strongly against Sri Lanka,” Sammy stated.

The T20I squad includes:

1. Rovman Powell (Captain)
2. Roston Chase (Vice Captain)
3. Fabian Allen
4. Alick Athanaze
5. Andre Fletcher
6. Terrance Hinds
7. Shai Hope
8. Alzarri Joseph
9. Shamar Joseph
10. Brandon King
11. Evin Lewis
12. Gudakesh Motie
13. Sherfane Rutherford
14. Romario Shepherd
15. Shamar Springer

The ODI squad, set to compete from October 20 to 27, 2024, will be captained by Shai Hope with Alzarri Joseph as Vice-Captain. This series is a crucial step in building the ODI team ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. Notably, young Antiguan wicketkeeper-batsman Jewel Andrew has earned his place in the squad, alongside returning key players like Brandon King and Sherfane Rutherford.

Coach Sammy remarked on the ODI squad’s balance and potential for growth: “As we continue to build our ODI team, this tour offers a valuable opportunity to evaluate strategies and give opportunities to emerging talent. We are excited to see young players like Jewel Andrew, who has earned his place as an exciting prospect for the future.”

The ODI squad includes:

1. Shai Hope (Captain)
2. Alzarri Joseph (Vice-Captain)
3. Jewel Andrew
4. Alick Athanaze
5. Keacy Carty
6. Roston Chase
7. Matthew Forde
8. Shamar Joseph
9. Brandon King
10. Evin Lewis
11. Gudakesh Motie
12. Sherfane Rutherford
13. Jayden Seales
14. Romario Shepherd
15. Hayden Walsh Jr.

Team Management:

Team management remains the same across both squads.

The ODI series will start on 20 October 2024, with the first match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, followed by matches on 23 and 26 October.

Tour Schedule:

T20I Series:

All matches 7:00pm local time/9:30am Eastern Caribbean/8:30am Jamaica Caribbean fans can catch the action on Rush Sports, the Bluu App and Sports Max App.

ODI Series:

All matches 2:30pm local time/5:00am Eastern Caribbean/4:00am Jamaica

Caribbean fans can catch the action on Rush Sports, the Bluu App and Sports Max App