Gajnabi focused on breaking into Windies World Cup squad

By Brandon Corlette

Guyana and West Indies Women’s player Shabika Gajnabi has given a good account of herself in 2019, playing junior and senior Regional cricket while rocking the maroon colours for the West Indies Women.

As the T20 World Cup in Australia looms, commencing from February 21, 2020, Gajnabi has her eyes set on being selected to participate in the global showpiece.
Fresh from copping the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB’s) award for being the Most Promising Female Player of 2019, the 19-year-old Berbician spoke exclusively with <<Guyana Times Sport>> earlier this week, reflecting on her productive year and peeking into the future.
“First of all, I must thank Allah for a wonderful year; and the best part for me in 2019 was getting selected for West Indies.”
The right-arm batter, who also bowls right-arm medium, explained that the hard work she has put into her game paid off, and she is anticipating that 2020 would be a bright year for her.

The centrally-contracted Cricket West Indies (CWI) Woman player, who also captained Guyana Under-19 earlier this year, highlighted that transition from Under-19 cricket to senior cricket has been a smooth road.
“Well, it’s nothing hard, it’s just a little adjustment when coming in the senior team. Coming against West Indies players, I have to focus more on the game. The same way I played in Under-19 is the same thing I bring to senior team, because I always give my best in all formats of cricket,” Gajnabi explained.
Gajnabi hails from the Albion, Corentyne village of Chesney, but plays cricket for the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC). She made her International debut for West Indies Women in September 2019 against the mighty Australians, after being a constant member of CWI training camps.
A simple and humble personality, Gajnabi is thankful to her team mate Shemaine Campbelle for the help she has received to better her game. She is also grateful to the RHTY&SC, along with all the West Indies coaches, for playing a part in her successful journey thus far.
Gajnabi, who played in the India series in November, is among the 21 West Indies Women players who earned selection for the Pre-World Cup camp which commences on January 6 and concludes on January 25, 2020. She told this daily publication that she is working really hard to make the World Cup squad, and if given opportunity, she would be aiming to play her best cricket.
Gajnabi also played in the rapidly-growing Courts T20 Grand Slam Franchise cricket in Trinidad, where she gained a wealth of knowledge from playing among the best Caribbean players. Gajnabi was only the second Guyanese, after Campbelle, to surpass 100 runs in the Regional Super50 Cup, accumulating 136 runs.
Being second to Campbelle in Super50 runs, she is also the second Guyanese to obtain a CWI central contact in 2019. The teenager, who will celebrate her 20th birthday on July 14 next year, dominated the Under-19 level, where she caught the selectors’ attention early. She recorded a half-century against Leeward Islands senior team in a Super50 match played at Enmore, but chalked up 52 and 57 against Trinidad and Jamaica Under-19s respectively. Given her all-round capabilities, Gajnabi, who was also the three nominated players for “GCB female player of the year”, speaks volume of a cricketer with great skill, and in 2020 she will continue to break barriers.