West Indies named Shai Hope, Rovman Powell as T20I and ODI captains

Cricket West Indies on Wednesday appointed Shai Hope and Rovman Powell as the ODI and T20I captains of the West Indies respectively. Cricket West Indies confirmed that Hope and Powell would take over from Nicholas Pooran as captains of the men’s ODI and T20I teams for the upcoming tour of South Africa and beyond. Pooran stepped down as captain in both white-ball formats following West Indies’ early exit from November’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Shai Hope will replace him as captain of the one-day international team, with the Cricket World Cup on the horizon later this year if West Indies are able to qualify.

Meanwhile, Rovman Powell, who led them in T20I debut in New Zealand last year, will lead the T20I side.

Hope has played 104 times for the West Indies in ODI cricket, vice-captaining the team on several occasions. And his outstanding individual performance earned him a place in the ICC ODI Team of the Year for 2022.

But, after three matches in South Africa in March, Hope is likely to lead his team in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe in June, as the West Indies are unlikely to qualify automatically as per the conditions. .

“Leading a team that holds incredible significance not only to me and my teammates but to fans around the world is a dream I’ve had as a child,” Hope said in a statement released by Cricket West Indies.

“I would like to thank CWI for entrusting me with this huge opportunity. Navigating West Indies cricket in the right direction will be my fundamental priority and a task to which I will remain incredibly committed. With the support of my teammates and our devoted fans I look forward to a long and satisfying tenure as captain,” said Hope.

The West Indies are co-hosting the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and Powell will be hoping to field a squad for that tournament in 2024.

“I am truly humbled and grateful to have been given this amazing opportunity to lead the West Indies. For me, it is a huge vote of confidence and I look upon it as the greatest honor of my career.” For Caribbeans, there is no greater role in cricket in the region – that work was previously done by some of West Indies cricket’s greatest servants,” Powell said.

“I would also like to thank CWI for allowing me to guide the team in the years to come as we look forward to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” he added.

The first assignment for both the captains will be the upcoming tour of South Africa in March, where they will face the West Indies in three ODIs and three T20Is from March 16 to March 28, followed by two matches in the ICC World Test Championship.

Each captain will be heavily involved in strategy and planning for the next ICC World Tournaments. In ODI cricket, the West Indies need to qualify for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, with the qualifiers scheduled to be held in Zimbabwe in June. In T20I cricket, West Indies will host the next ICC T20 World Cup in June 2024 along with USA.

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