Ramdin banking on experience, home advantage for Masters O-40s World Cup

West Indies Captain Denesh Ramdin believes his team’s international experience and familiarity with Guyanese conditions can drive a strong campaign at the International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-40s World Cup, which begins on October 17.

The hosts will open against Australia at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, in the 16-team tournament, with Ramdin stressing that fitness and competitive cricket from the outset will be essential to success.
The squad, announced a week ago, includes fellow former West Indies players Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jason Mohammed, Devendra Bishoo, Sewnarine Chattergoon and Rayad Emrit, giving the team an experienced core for the 45-over competition.
“I believe we have a strong team to do well; I am happy we have several players with international experience and we know what they are capable of,” Ramdin said.
The 41-year-old Trinidadian wicketkeeper-batsman, who captained West Indies in 13 of his 71 Test appearances, singled out Sarwan as an important addition. Sarwan represented West Indies in 87 Tests, 187 One-Day Internationals and 18 T20 Internationals.
Ramdin described Sarwan as a class player whose knowledge would strengthen the side, while cautioning that past achievements alone would not guarantee results.
His own international background includes being part of the West Indies teams that won the T20 World Cup in 2012 and 2016. He believes that collective experience, supported by players who have already competed in Masters tournaments, gives West Indies a balanced squad.
However, preparation remains a priority, particularly the need to maintain fitness throughout the competition.
“I think fitness is the key, and most of the guys are still playing competitive cricket,” Ramdin said.
He noted that Masters cricket still demands a good level of conditioning and said the players were working hard to ensure they were ready for the tournament.
Playing in Guyana could provide another advantage. Ramdin rated the conditions favourably for both batting and bowling and believes the team’s familiarity with local pitches could help its campaign.
“Yes, conditions in Guyana are generally good for batting and bowling; we are very much familiar with it, and that could be an advantage, but still competitive cricket is required,” he said.
West Indies and Australia are among eight teams in Group A, alongside Namibia, Sri Lanka, Wales, Canada, Colombia and defending champions South Africa.
Group B comprises New Zealand, England, Pakistan, Scotland, India, the United States, Rest of the World XI and Rest of the Caribbean.
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, leaving little room for an inconsistent start. The remaining 12 teams will continue competing for final placements.
Matches will be played at venues across Guyana, with the Guyana National Stadium set to host the final on October 31.