Despite the lack of international experience in the West Indies squad, Head Coach Phil Simmons believes the current group of players is still very hungry and eager to succeed in Bangladesh.
Several of the first-choice senior players are absent from this tour, which includes three One-Day Internationals and two Tests, for reasons ranging from COVID-19 concerns to injuries.
The ODI squad is the most inexperienced with nine players yet to appear in the format.
The last tour is of little inspiration since the West Indies, with a much stronger squad back then, lost both series. Simmons, speaking Tuesday through a Virtual press conference, said the players are ready for the challenge.
“Yes, we may not have our full team, but at the same time we have a team here that is hungry, wants to do well and wants to play in these conditions and to fight and scrap in these conditions. When we left the Caribbean we left with the intention of winning the ODI series, ”Simmons noted.
After three away trips, the most by any team during the pandemic, the West Indies are expected to host Sri Lanka, Australia, South Africa and Pakistan, all ahead of this year’s Caribbean Premier League.
The coach said that good performances in this series will certainly bode well for the busy schedule on the horizon.
“When we went to England, we carried 25 players and we’ve seen a couple of young players, including the two who made their first appearance in New Zealand come through from there,” expressed Simmons.
“There’s a couple of young players on this tour we didn’t know before so this opens up the pool and as I said before, some of the places are in the players’ hands; if they do well here they can put themselves in line to play most of these upcoming series. “
The one-day leg, which includes three games, begins Jan. 20 and Simmons said that based on how players perform in the net sessions they can gauge the best combination, given the inexperience.
The second and third ODIs will be fought on January 22 and 25.
West Indies ODI Squad: Jason Mohammed (Captain), Sunil Ambris (Lieutenant), Nkrumah Bonner, Joshua Da Silva, Keon Harding, Jahmar Hamilton, Chemar Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Andre McCarthy, Kjorn Ottley, Rovman Powell, Raymon Reifer, Hayden Walsh Jr.