West Indies Women’s lead selector Ann Browne-John says the leaders of the Women’s `A’ team are being groomed for future leadership.
Wicketkeeper/batter, Reniece Boyce has been appointed captain and will have all-rounder Shabika Gajnabi as her deputy when West Indies Women A, lock horns with Pakistan A for three One Day Internationals (ODI) and a historic, first ever three T20Is shortly.
Boyce, 23, has featured in four ODIs and six T20Is while 20-year-old Gajnabi has played five ODIs and seven T20Is.
Browne-John explained at a press conference yesterday that there was no hesitation in selecting the two players to lead the team given what was seen of them dating back to their youth days.
“We have been looking at a lot of these players for many years, since they would have been at Under-19 and coming up and the two persons that were selected for captain and vice-captain were captains of their Under-19 teams so we looked at Boyce and Gajnabi since then and we saw not only leadership qualities but people we could start groom for the future,” Browne-John said.
Head coach of the Caribbean ladies side, Courtney Walsh shared a similar viewpoint as Browne-John and revealed that in a conversation with Gajnabi yesterday, he informed her that they are looking at her on a long-term basis as she has the potential to develop into a genuine all-rounder.
“One of the reasons we also put her [Gajnabi] into the leadership role is she has been around for a while and she showed promise in all departments and has the potential to become a good all-rounder,” Walsh stated while adding, “Her batting has really come on a lot more in this camp…and I think she is now believing in herself a lot more and her all-round skillset and I mean the ability that she has it has a role to play in the team.”
West Indies Women A squad: Reniece Boyce (captain), Shabika Gajnabi (vice captain), Shanika Bruce, Cherry Ann Fraser, Jannillea Glasgow, Sheneta Grimmond, Caneisha Isaac, Zaida James, Japhina Joseph, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Kaysia Schultz, Steffie Soogrim, Rachel Vincent and Rashada Williams.
Fixtures:
1st T20I- June 30
2nd T20I- July 2
3rd T20I- July 4
1st ODI- July 10
2nd ODI- July 13
3rd ODI- July 16
