Windies Women to play three T20Is in Karachi
After the three T20Is, the teams will travel to the United Arab Emirates for a three-match ICC Women’s Championship one-day international series.
Efforts to have international sides playing in Pakistan have been on for a long time, but security concerns following the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore during the 2009 tour have kept teams away.
JUST IN: @windieswomen to play three T20Is in Karachi, Pakistan before heading to the UAE for an ICC Women's Championship ODI series. #PAKWvWIW. pic.twitter.com/J9o84ToP6o
— ICC (@ICC) January 24, 2019
However, since 2015, when Zimbabwe travelled to Lahore for a limited-overs series, top-flight teams have started travelling to Pakistan, with the International Cricket Council also playing a big role in persuading a number of prominent cricketers to travel to Lahore as part of a World XI side for three T20Is last year.
Last year, Pakistan had hosted the Windies men’s team in a similar three-match T20I series in Karachi, and the smooth proceedings in that series played a part in convincing the CWI to sanction the women’s tour, said Grave.
“This tour is a further major step for our friends at the PCB to bring their cricket back home,” said Grave. “We are pleased that our players and support staff have recognised this and agreed to play the T20Is in Pakistan.”
Here are some more highlights from the #WINDIES Women fitness testing. The Pakistan tour is the next stop. A camp is on now in Antigua as they prepare. Read more here https://t.co/5MNYGWpS05 pic.twitter.com/kfoVvyAXG1
— WINDIES Women (@windieswomen) January 13, 2019
However, captain Stafanie Taylor has opted out of the tour – Grave said “should any (player) have any personal reservations about this tour, we fully understand and accept their position” – and Merissa Aguilleira will take over as captain for the T20Is. Taylor will resume as captain when she joins the side in Dubai in time for the ICC Women’s Championship ODIs, starting from 7 February.
The Windies will also be without Hayley Matthews, who suffered a medial knee ligament damage to her right knee at the Women’s Big Bash League in December. She will need “a further 3-4 weeks of therapy” before returning to action.
Squad: Stafanie Taylor (capt, ODIs only), Merissa Aguilleira (T20I capt), Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Natasha McClean, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Rashada Williams.
Itinerary
31 January – 1st T20I, Southend Club, Karachi.
1 February – 2nd T20I, Southend Club, Karachi.
3 February – 3rd T20I, Southend Club, Karachi.
7 February – 1st IWC ODI, Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
9 February – 2nd IWC ODI, ICC Academy, Dubai
11 February – 3rd IWC ODI, ICC Academy, Dubai
