ECNETNews, New York, NY, Fri. Aug. 23, 2024: West Indies head coach Daren Sammy is on a mission to elevate the regional cricket team from a series-winning squad to a championship-winning powerhouse ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2026. As the head coach for white-ball formats, Sammy aims for consistency and excellence as the Windies gear up for their three-match T20 series against South Africa, starting today, August 23, 2024, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.
Although the West Indies secured victories in four of their last five T20 series, including a resounding 3-0 sweep over South Africa in May, they faced elimination in the Super 8 stage of the recent T20 World Cup at the hands of the Proteas. Sammy, who previously led the team to T20 World Cup triumphs in 2012 and 2016, underscored the necessity for ongoing improvement and evolution to regain their championship title.
“We must find ways to continually evolve and enhance our performance. My goal is to cultivate a championship-winning mentality within the team,” he stated. “At present, we operate as a series-winning team. While we excel against a single opposition in a brief series, I require us to perform consistently against various teams in a tournament setting.”
Sammy acknowledged that although the ultimate objective is championship victories, the immediate priority is winning the series against South Africa. “It’s not about revenge; it’s an invaluable chance for us to regroup and refocus. Our primary goal is to clinch the series, but we also aim to refine the aspects we need to improve for tournament success,” he explained.
The three-match T20 series against South Africa will take place from August 23 to 27, 2024, in Trinidad. The West Indies squad for the series includes:
- Rovman Powell (Captain)
- Roston Chase (Vice-Captain)
- Alick Athanaze
- Johnson Charles
- Matthew Forde
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Fabian Allen
- Shai Hope
- Akeal Hosein
- Shamar Joseph
- Obed McCoy
- Gudakesh Motie
- Nicholas Pooran
- Sherfane Rutherford
- Romario Shepherd
With Sammy’s guidance, the West Indies aim to build vital momentum starting with this series against South Africa as they set their sights firmly on future championships.
