Cricket West Indies (CWI) has named the players who will take over the ODI and T20I captaincy duties from Nicholas Pooran.
The left-handed batter stepped down as West Indies captain in both the formats of white-ball cricket after his side failed to make it to the Super-12 stage of the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. West Indies faced an embarrassing 9-wicket defeat in their must-win game against Ireland in October last year.
CWI has confirmed that wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope will replace Pooran as the captain of their ODI team, with a 50-over World Cup on the horizon later this year if the Men in Maroon are able to qualify.
Meanwhile, middle-order batter Rovman Powell, who led the Carribean side on their New Zealand last year, will take charge of the T20I team.
Hope has played 104 ODIs for West Indies so far and has been the vice-captain of the side in many games. His first assignment as full-time captain will be the tour of South Africa, where West Indies have to play three 50-over matches after the two Tests.
“To lead a team that is of such incredible significance not only to myself and my teammates but to our legion of fans the world over, is something one dreams of as a child,” Hope said in a statement released by CWI.
“I would like to thank CWI for entrusting me with this immense opportunity. To navigate West Indies cricket in the right direction will be my fundamental priority and a task that I shall be unwaveringly committed to. With the support of my teammates and our dedicated fans, I look forward to a long and fulfilling tenure as captain.”
West Indies are the co-host of the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and Powell have to built a strong team keeping that tournament in mind.
“I’m truly humbled and grateful to be given this amazing opportunity to lead the West Indies,” Powell said in his statement.
“For me, this a huge vote of confidence and I see this as the greatest honour of my career. To be asked to ‘carry the flag’ for the people of the Caribbean, there’s no bigger role in cricket in the region – a job previously held by some of the greatest servants of West Indies cricket.
“I also want to thank CWI for allowing me to guide the team in the coming years as we set sights on the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.”
