Hope hails squad’s depth after dominant win over Nepal

The West Indies cricket team booked their place in the Super Eight stage of the ongoing International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a commanding nine-wicket victory over Nepal national cricket team on Sunday, delivering a clinical performance that underlined their growing confidence in the tournament.
Led by Captain Shai Hope, the Caribbean side showcased both depth and balance as they dismantled Nepal with efficiency. The result not only secured qualification, but also reinforced their status as serious contenders for the title.
Speaking after the match, Hope praised the strength and versatility of his squad.
“Firstly, that goes to show how strong our squad is. When you call upon anyone in the team, you have someone who can fill a hole. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a hole, but every single person in the squad has something that they can bring to contribute to team wins,” he shared.

The skipper reserved special praise for all-rounder Matthew Forde, whose impact continues to grow since returning from injury during the tour of New Zealand.
Hope gushed, “Matthew has been incredible for us in the powerplay in the last few series, all the way from New Zealand when he came back from that injury. So, it’s great to have him back. He’s been bowling really well and then you can see what he can do in the back end with the bat as well. So, he’s a very good all-round player and is someone that could be a very impactful player in any team.”
Forde’s contributions with both ball and bat once again highlighted the all-round depth that has become a hallmark of the West Indies’ campaign.
While qualification for the Super Eights brings satisfaction, Hope made it clear that the mission was far from complete.
“That was a great feeling. That’s what we set out to do from the jump. When we got on the plane to come here, that was our first step. We all want to lift the trophy, but there’s a process to get there,” the Windies T20 skipper explained.
The Captain emphasised the importance of continuous improvement as the tournament intensifies.
“Playing our best cricket; hopefully, we can continue to peak and keep growing as a strong unit in all departments. And when the time comes, those crunch times come, we can always seize those moments and ensure we’re on top.”
The West Indies will close out their group-stage campaign against Italy national cricket team on Thursday, February 19, from 01:30h local time. With a Super-Eight berth already secured, the fixture offers another opportunity for West Indies to fine-tune combinations and build momentum ahead of the knockout phase.
If Sunday’s performance is anything to go by, the Caribbean side appears to be hitting its stride at just the right time.