ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024: “When we prepare well, we do well”

–Says Head Coach Daren Sammy

Several West Indies Men’s players, chiefly those named in the Region’s 15-member T20 World Cup Squad, have gathered in Antigua and Barbuda for a training camp that would prepare them for their 3-match T20 Series against South Africa next week, and for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June.
Guyanese players Gudakesh Motie and Keemo Paul are among the encamped group.
While there, Head Coach Daren Sammy touched on how important good preparation is for the West Indies team, the players still competing in the IPL, and what he hopes to get out of the impending South Africa series in Jamaica.
“We’ve shown, over the last year or so; well, since I’ve been here, when we prepare well, we give ourselves the best chance of performing. That’s the main reason why we’re here in Antigua,” the white-ball head coach Sammy shared.
Turning his attention to those players who might be considered as ‘missing out’, given their current participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Sammy cited this as a non-issue.
He explained, “We always knew, building up to the World Cup, the possibility of our guys being in India, playing in the IPL and hopefully doing well. You know, we have a couple of our guys that their franchises are in good positions to go on to the playoffs. But rest assured, the guys who are not in the playoff will be featuring with us in Jamaica.
“Speaking to the medical team, the management, is very important. So, I have everybody ready and fresh for the World Cup, but you can’t substitute playing time with nets. So, it’s good that some of them are playing, but those who are not (playing) will definitely feature against South Africa before the World Cup,” Sammy added.
Speaking further on the ongoing camp, Sammy voiced hopes of gaining some momentum as they head into the global event in June.
“It’s all about preparing well and, you know, (making) sure that when the bell rings against South Africa first, that we ready; cause, yes, it’s World Cup preparation, but it’s an opportunity to gather some good momentum as a team going into the World Cup, and if that is done after the end of this camp, I’m a smiling coach,” Sammy related to CWI Media.
West Indies meet South Africa next Thursday, May 23, for the first of three T20Is at Sabina Park, Jamaica. The remaining games will be played on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26.
Thereafter, the men in maroon will begin their T20 World Cup campaign in Guyana on June 2nd at the National Stadium at Providence against Papua New Guinea.
The West Indies World Cup squad reads: Captain Rovman Powell, Vice-Captain Alzarri Joseph, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd.