By Brandon Corlette
The upcoming days for the West Indies selectors will not be straightforward by any means. Lead Selector Dr Desmond Haynes and company will have to come up with a 13-man squad for the India Test series which starts on July 12, but some of the Test players are currently in Zimbabwe playing the ICC World Cup Qualifiers, which will finish on July 9.
The likes of Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Alzarri Joseph and Roston Chase may have difficulties of returning to Dominica for the July 12 Test match, if they are to stay in Zimbabwe until July 9. Veteran International Cricket Commentator Joseph Reds Perreira shared his views on the matter.
“Well, I think initially, the qualifiers in Zimbabwe did not include a super six by the ICC. That was added later through the Qualifiers, bringing it to a later finish on July 9. Once the change was made by the ICC, they would have had the India vs West Indies series information. ICC should have taken necessary steps to avoid the clash. CWI officials should have picked up the potential clash and work with the BCCI and ICC to overcome the potential problem of getting the best West Indies team for the opening Test in Dominica starting on July 12,” Reds said.
One option that Reds is suggesting is having the white-ball series played first which he thinks will buy time for the West Indies players to return from Zimbabwe.
As it relates to the Test players in the Caribbean at the moment, Reds said there are some players heading to Antigua for a camp, which is yet to be confirmed by CWI.
Kraigg Brathwaite, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua Da Silva, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales (subject to fitness) and Jermaine Blackwood are among the Test players in the Caribbean that are likely to be in the 13-man Test squad for the two Tests against India. Prospective Test players Akeem Jordan and Alick Athanze will also have a strong chance of making their debut if the players remain in Zimbabwe until July 9.
Kevin Sinclair will also be in contention for a possible Test call-up, if Chase and others are still in Zimbabwe ahead of the first India Test.
The West Indies team currently in Zimbabwe are facing a serious scheduling conflict between its white-ball and red-ball engagements, and it is not an ideal situation to prepare for international assignments. Cricket West Indies (CWI) acknowledged the problem and has stated that it is exploring multiple options to avoid any potential crisis.
Travelling from Zimbabwe to Dominica will require close to two days, and this is certainly a complicating matter.
According to reports, a CWI official involved in the planning said alternative arrangements are being made. CWI intend to release Chase, Holder, Mayers and Joseph before the final as the title clash in the tournament has no major relevance to the World Cup qualification, since reaching the final is enough.
India will arrive in the Caribbean by July 1, allowing them at least 10 days to prepare and overcome jet lag before the first Test bowls off on July 12 in Dominica.
West Indies v India schedule 2023
MATCH SCHEDULE
India tour of West Indies 2023
Test Matches
12-16 July: 1st Test Match, Windsor Park, Dominica
20-24 July: 2nd Test Match, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad
* Local start time: 10h (09h Jamaica time)
CG United ODIs
27 July: 1st CG United ODI, Kensington Oval, Barbados
29 July: 2nd CG United ODI, Kensington Oval, Barbados
1 August: 3rd CG United ODI, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad
* Local start time: 09h30 (08h30 Jamaica time)
T20 Internationals
3 August: 1st T20I, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad
6 August: 2nd T20I, National Stadium, Guyana
8 August: 3rd T20I, National Stadium Guyana
12 August: 4th T20I, Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida
13 August: 5th T20I, Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida
* Local start time: 10h30 (09h30 Jamaica time)
