PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Interim West Indies coach David Williams has refused to label the Champions Trophy squad as second string.
The 14-man squad currently in training for cricket’s mini World Cup in South Africa next month is missing the region’s top players, as a result of a contracts dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players Association.
But Williams, who was appointed acting head coach after Australian John Dyson’s axing earlier this month, said while the squad lacked experience, they possessed the tenacity to perform well.
“At the end of the day whoever goes out there to play is representing the West Indies and is a West Indies team,” said Williams, who was assistant to Dyson for the last two years.
“The guys in the team may not be the most experienced but they are willing and have plenty of talent. We intend to work with these players so that they would be competitive in South Africa.”
The depleted West Indies squad, minus the leading trio of Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shiv Chanderpaul, will face a huge challenge to get out of the group stages at the September 22 to October 5Champion’s League.
Playing in Group A, they face one-day World champions Australia, along with World Twenty20 kings Pakistan and India, a dangerous team in the shortened versions of the game.
Williams, however, backed his side to spring a surprise.
“I don’t think that people should write us off for the Champions League. We have a young team and they would be going there to make a name for themselves,” the former Windies wicketkeeper/batsman said. “We have a very good preparation schedule in place with two camps in Barbados and South Africa and once the players get a lot from them, they would be okay for this series. They may even surprise some people and win some big matches.”
The new-look squad will be captain by veteran Barbados batsman Floyd Reifer and includes the likes of all-rounder Darren Sammy, David Bernard jr and Tino Best.
They are currently involved in a training camp in Barbados.
