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Cricket West Indies (CWI) today confirmed their list of centrally contracted men’s and women’s players for the 2023-24 season, based on “recommendations from the selection panels and approval by the board of directors”.
There are 14 men and 15 women on the list, which is drawn up “based on player performances during the 2022 to 2023 evaluation period”.
Photo: Randy Brooks / AFP/ CWI Media
Four West Indies men, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, right-handed batter Keacy Carty and left-handed batters Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze, were offered contacts for the first time.
Allrounders Zaida James and Sheneta Grimmond were rewarded with their first contracts too for the West Indies Women.
However, the CWI Media also confirmed that three contracted players rejected new deals.
Former West Indies captains Jason Holder and Nicholas Pooran, as well as allrounder Kyle Mayers all “declined” proffered contracts. Mayers was replaced as vice-captain of the West Indies T20 International team yesterday by Shai Hope.
(via CWI Media)
No explanation was given by the CWI Media other than a statement that the trio “confirmed their availability for all West Indies T20 Internationals during the contract year”.
Other players from the 2022-23 list who did not receive new contracts are: Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Obed McCoy, Odean Smith and Hayden Walsh Jr.
West Indies Men’s Team head selector Desmond Haynes said a lot of thought went into their list of contracted players.
“With a busy year of cricket ahead, in all three formats, we have held several detailed discussions with the two head coaches on the brand of cricket they want to play,” Haynes told CWI Media. “We are very clear in the direction we want to go.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
“The players who have been offered contracts are among those who we expect to feature, as we look to build towards challenging for the top spot when we host and compete in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 on home soil.
“We also have away Test Series in Australia and England—these are two major assignments whilst in the 50-over format we look to build a nucleus of players aimed towards the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.”
The contracted West Indies Men’s players are: Alick Athanaze, Kraigg Brathwaite, Keacy Carty, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua Da Silva, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, and Romario Shepherd.
(Copyright Randy Brooks / AFP via Getty Images/ CWI Media)
The contracted West Indies Women’s Team players are: Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Mandy Mangru, Hayley Matthews, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor, and Rashada Williams.
West Indies Women’s Team lead selector Ann Browne-John spoke to their deliberations.
“The selectors have identified a cadre of players who we believe can drive West Indies cricket forward,” she said. “We have placed emphasis on the development of the younger players, which we view as pivotal in the pathway to the international level.
“We have a number of high-profile bilateral series and major global events on the horizon and with this in mind, we want to have our players prepared and ready for every occasion.”
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