West Indies cricket fans received some disappointing news as seasoned player Deandra Dottin has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025. The qualifier will take place in Pakistan from April 9 to 19. Dottin sustained an injury during the Women’s Premier League in India, and unfortunately, she hasn’t healed enough to participate in this important six-team tournament. Given her past performance, this is quite a setback for the team since she was the West Indies’ top run-scorer at the last ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, scoring 120 runs with a solid average of 40.00 across five matches.
Taking the reins once again is Hayley Matthews, who will serve as the team’s captain. Hayes is recognized as one of the top 10 players in the ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings, which certainly adds to the team’s confidence. The squad is largely made up of players who took part in the recent ODI series against Bangladesh, which aimed to prepare them for the qualifiers. Out of the 12 players from that successful series, only three were dropped: Dottin, Nerissa Crafton, and Djenaba Joseph. They’ve been replaced by Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, and Rashada Williams.
Matthews expressed her optimism heading into the World Cup Qualifiers. She remarked on how well-prepared the team feels and the close-knit atmosphere they share. “As we head into the World Cup Qualifiers, we know we have prepared well for this moment. The team environment feels like a family, and we have all been enjoying ourselves out in the park,” she said, according to the ICC.
Matthews emphasized the importance of staying focused on their game and relying on each other’s skills without letting distractions get in the way. She noted the team’s goal is to win the tournament and that they trust in their capability to perform well.
In terms of the bowling lineup, Afy Fletcher, who shined in the last T20 World Cup by taking 10 wickets in five matches, will lead the spin attack along with Karishma Ramharack. The West Indies had a challenging time in the last ICC Women’s Championship, finishing eighth among the ten teams.
Lookingahead to the qualifiers, the Windies are set to go up against teams like Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, Thailand, and the host nation, Pakistan. The stakes are high: the top two teams from this round-robin tournament will secure their spots in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, which is slated to be held in India. Other teams like Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand have already qualified for the World Cup by finishing among the top five in the previous championship standings.
Here’s the squad they will be working with: Hayley Matthews (captain), Shemaine Campbelle, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor, and Rashada Williams. It’s certainly an exciting time for women’s cricket, and fans will be eagerly watching to see how the team performs in these crucial qualifiers.
