ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Dominica Cricket Association president, Emmanuel Nanthan has welcomed the call-up of off-spinner Shane Shillingford to the West Indies squad.

The 27-year-old Shillingford was named in a 14-man squad to face South Africa in the first Test starting on Thursday at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.

Nanthan, also a West Indies Cricket Board director, said the breakthrough for Shillingford was a fillip for the country.

“First of all, I want to congratulate Shane on his selection. Indeed, he has made the entire nation proud and all Dominicans should be happy for him and should congratulate him,” Nanthan said. “He has worked hard over the years and today, we see that his hard work is bearing fruits, and for that we are most pleased. What we want now is for him to go out there and make us proud because the entire nation will be behind him.”

Shillingford forced his way into the selection frame with a series of strong performances in the regional first class tournament and in recent outings for the West Indies A side.

He picked up 28 wickets to be Windwards’ main wicket-taker during the four-day tournament earlier this year and also shone with six wickets in the first four-day “Test” against Bangladesh A, and another three in the first innings of the drawn second match in Dhaka recently.

Nanthan cautioned, however, that Shillingford needed to stay focussed and avoid distractions that could ruin his career.

“We know that his selection is as a result of his hard work. Let me quickly point out that success will only come with hard work and nothing else,” Nanthan said.

‘He must remain focussed and not get caught up in the glamour of money and women.”