West Indies women announce squad for tour of Sri Lanka

West Indies have announced the squad for their upcoming tour to Sri Lanka, starting 15 June. The two teams will face each other in three ODIs and as many T20Is.

Player of the Month for April winner Hayley Matthews will continue to lead the side while Shemaine Campbelle will serve as her deputy, while pacer Shabika Gajnabi will be seen making a return to the squad after missing the Pakistan tour.

The three-match ODI series forms part of the ICC Women’s Championship -- wherein the top five teams, alongside hosts India, will directly qualify for the Cricket World Cup in 2025. West Indies are currently placed seventh on the table and just below them are Sri Lanka in eighth with equal points but net run-rate separates the two.

Lead selector Ann Browne-John stated that the series will impact the automatic qualification for the World Cup with valuable points up for grabs.

“The ODI series serves as a crucial stepping stone towards automatic qualification for the Women’s Cricket World Cup, providing an essential opportunity for the team to gain more valuable points in the Women’s Championship. The tour also allows the squad, during the T20I series, to continue to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which takes place in September in Bangladesh.”

The chief selector also emphasised getting used to the conditions as both the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and the Cricket World Cup next year In India will see the West Indies team face similar conditions.

“The similar Indian subcontinental conditions will help the team to refine their skills strategies, build synergy, and assess their strengths and areas for improvement against quality opposition. The experience gained here will be invaluable as they progress towards the T20 World Cup, ensuring they are well-prepared and in peak form for the challenges ahead,” added Browne-John.

The West Indies contingent will depart for Sri Lanka on June 2 as they will take part in a seven-day camp in Colombo to prepare for this important tour.

Squad: Hayley Matthews (captain), Shemaine Campbelle (vice-captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams, Kate Wilmott.

Schedule:

1st ODI: 15 June, Saturday, Galle

2nd ODI: 18 June, Tuesday, Galle

3rd ODI: 21 June, Friday, Galle

1st T20I: 24 June, Monday, Hambantota

2nd T20I: 26 June, Wednesday, Hambantota

3rd T20I: 28 June, Friday, Hambantota