Strong Windies Squad named for Sri Lanka clash

By Devika Ragoonanan- Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced a powerful 15-player West Indies Women’s squad to host Sri Lanka in a three-match One-Day International series, starting from Feb. 20 at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada.

According to CWI, the series is more than just a bilateral contest; it is an important step in Windies Women’s pursuit of climbing the ICC Women’s Championship rankings.

The Windies Women will face cricketing heavyweights Australia in the upcoming ODI matches. They will also play series against Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Pakistan later in the year.

With the return of captain Hayley Matthews, who has been sidelined since last June due to a shoulder injury, the team now has a mega boost.

Matthews will be supported by Chinelle Henry, who has been appointed vice-captain as she takes over the role from veteran wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbelle.

The explosive all-rounder Deandra Dottin will also make her way back into the field after she has been sidelined by injury for much of 2025, causing her to miss many crucial assignments.

Cricket West Indies Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe emphasised the significance of the home series, adding that it is an investment in the sport’s growth across the region.

“This home series is a cornerstone event, not just for team preparation but for the continued elevation of women’s cricket across the Caribbean,” Bascombe stated.

“Every match played here is an investment in our future. It is about providing a visible, high-performance pathway that shows every young woman in the region what is possible. Playing in front of our home fans in Grenada adds a profound layer of significance, so we want our team to feel the pride of the Maroon legacy and feed off that energy to inspire the next generation.”

Head Coach Shane Deitz is relishing the competitive challenge that Sri Lanka presents, and he made it clear that his squad is hungry to settle an old score.

“We’re excited to have this series against Sri Lanka, who are a really good team. They beat us in the ODI series in Sri Lanka back in 2024, so we owe them one, and now we get them on our home turf,” said Deitz.

“It’ll be tough-fought against a team ranked higher than us, but the girls are excited about competing, putting on a good show, and playing some great cricket for all our fans here in the Caribbean.”

West Indies Women’s ODI Squad: Hayley Matthews (captain), Chinelle Henry (vice-captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Jahzara Claxton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Jannillea Glasgow, Realeanna Grimmond, Shawnisha Hector, Qiana Joseph, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Shunelle Sawh, Stafanie Taylor.

Series Schedule: 1st ODI – Friday, Feb. 20 – 9:30 a.m., 2nd ODI – Sunday, Feb. 22 – 9:30 a.m., 3rd ODI – Wednesday, Feb. 25 – 9:30 a.m.

The three-match T20I series will follow from Feb. 28. (Caribbeanlife)