Skipper Pooran eager for Pakistan challenge, visa delay rules Shepherd out of Netherlands squad
Fresh off a series victory against the Netherlands, West Indies Captain Nicholas Pooran says the team is eagerly awaiting their upcoming series against Pakistan.
This series against the Netherlands, and the following series in Pakistan from June 8 to 12, form part of the ICC ODI Super League.
Here teams have the opportunity to earn points to secure one of the top seven places, excluding hosts India, to gain automatic qualification for the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
West Indies Captain Nicholas Pooran said, “Definitely Pakistan in Pakistan is always a challenge but we’re looking forward to the opportunity.”
“The atmosphere there is wonderful. For this young bunch to go across there it would be a really good experience for us as well so we’re looking forward to the opportunity and hopefully we can do something special there.”
The team’s third and final ODI against the Netherlands is set for Saturday June 4.
Pooran noted that he did not put up many runs for the team in the previous match but he intends on helping the team pull off a series sweep on Saturday.
“Hopefully things can happen for me in the next game and I can entertain the crowd that came out here and get something for myself and you know – see if we can win the last game as well.
Pooran leads a relatively inexperienced squad on both tours with all-rounder Jason Holder rested, Guyanese Shimron Hetmyer unavailable and Evin Lewis not considered for selection after failing a fitness test.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed that Rovman Powell and Guyana’s Romario Shepherd are unable to take part in the ongoing ODI against the Netherlands due to visa delays.
They travelled to London immediately following their participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL), as their visa interviews could not have taken place in India due to the IPL bio-secure protocols. Despite having the interviews the day after their arrival, they are both still in London awaiting the appropriate visas to be able to travel to the Netherlands.
With the final match to be played at the VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen on Saturday, Shepherd and Powell will now fly directly to Pakistan to join the ODI squad for the three-match series.
The West Indies Squad will travel from Amsterdam to Pakistan on Sunday for matches at the Multan Cricket Stadium on June 8, 10 and 12.
ODI Squad to Pakistan: Nicholas Pooran (captain), Shai Hope (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, Keacy Carty, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Shermon Lewis, Kyle Mayers, Anderson Phillip, Rovman Powell, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.
(CWI)
