West Indies stars have points to prove in upcoming Super50 Cup
By Brandon Corlette
For most of the regular members in the West Indies team, the upcoming CG Insurance Regional Super50 Cup would be their first season. The likes of Jason Holder, Kieron Pollard, Shimron Hetmyer, Darren Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Brandon King, Hayden Walsh Jr, Sheldon Cottrell and Rovman Powell, among several others, would be available for their six respective franchises.
The tournament bowls off on February 7 in Antigua with the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands Volcanoes locking horns, and the standard of the tournament is expected to be higher than usual.
Test captain Holder has said the availability of such players would boost the competition of the tournament.
“We all got points to prove. Many international players would lift the standard of the cricket, and I think the responsibility is for us to lead the charge and then have the younger players mingle and us trying to pave the way for them,” Holder said in a virtual media interaction ahead of the Super50.
Meanwhile, Guyana Jaguars vice-captain Shimron Hetmyer also hinted that there would be bragging rights between him and his West Indies team mates. Senior Trinidad and Tobago Red Force player Dinesh Ramdin has said the star-studded Trinidad and Tobago Red Force team would be aiming to win the Super50 Cup. Anything less than a championship win will be considered as a failure for the men from Trinidad and Tobago, he said.
“All the players making themselves available, we want to go out there and win the title; but, as I said, we can’t win the title by just saying it, we need to go out there and perform as well. The other teams are coming for us (as) one of the strongest teams in the tournament on paper,” Ramdin added.
Meanwhile West Indies leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr has said he is expecting Guyana’s Ashmead Nedd to do well in this upcoming Super50 tournament. Walsh, who will be aiming to lead the bowling attack, has said the Leeward Islands will be aiming to start with a bang and clinch the title with the firepower in the squad.
Guyana Jaguars squad reads>: Leon Johnson (Captain), Shimron Hetmyer (Vice Captain), Assad Fudadin, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Kemol Savory, Christopher Barnwell, Keon Joseph, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair, Ramaal Lewis, Nial Smith, Gudakesh Motie, Anthony Bramble, Akshaya Persaud and Tevin Imlach.
Barbados Pride Squad: Jason Holder (captain), Joshua Bishop, Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Dominic Drakes, Jonathan Drakes, Justin Greaves, Keon Harding, Chemar Holder, Tevyn Walcott, Zachary Mc Caskie, Akeem Jordan, Nicholas Kirton and Ashley Nurse.
Trinidad and Tobago Red Force Squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Darren Bravo (vice-captain), Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Jason Mohammed, Nicholas Pooran, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Imran Khan, Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul, Jayden Seales, Kjorn Ottley, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre.
Jamaica Scorpions squad squad: Rovman Powell (captain); Derval Green (vice/captain); Aldaine Thomas; Oshane Thomas; Brandon King; Paul Palmer; Fabian Allen; Jamie Merchant; Jeavor Royal; Odean Smith; Sheldon Cottrel; Dennis Bulli; Javelle Glenn; Romaine Morris; and Andre McCarthy.
Leeward Islands Hurricanes squad: Devon Thomas (captain), Montcin Hodge (V/captain), Amir Jangoo, (wk), Ross Powell, Kieran Powell, Keacy Carty, Nitish Kumar, Hayden Walsh Jr, Jermiah Louis, Sheno Berrige, Quinton Boatswain, Colin Archibald, Nino Henry, Ashmead Nedd and Terrance Ward.
Windward Islands Volcanoes squad: Sunil Ambris (captain), Andre Fletcher (v/c), Alick Athanaze, Roland Cato, Keron Cottoy, Kenneth Dember, Larry Edward, Ryan John, Ray Jordan, Desron Maloney, Obed McCoy, Preston McSween, Kimani Melius, Emanuel Stewart and Kevin Stoute.