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In a major blow to the West Indies women’s cricket team, experienced all-rounder Deandra Dottin has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025, scheduled to be held in Pakistan from April 9 to April 19.
The news comes as a setback for the Caribbean side, as Dottin, one of the most explosive batters in women’s cricket, sustained an injury during the recently concluded Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 in India. The 33-year-old has not recovered in time for the tournament, making her unavailable for selection in the crucial six-team competition.
A major setback for West Indies in form of Deandra Dottin
Dottin’s absence is particularly significant given her impressive track record at international events. She was the West Indies’ leading run-scorer in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, amassing 120 runs in five matches at an average of 40.00. Known for her powerful hitting, athletic fielding, and ability to contribute with the ball, Dottin’s presence would have added immense value to the team’s batting and all-round capabilities. Despite this setback, West Indies have announced a formidable 15-member squad, led by star all-rounder Hayley Matthews, who continues to shine as one of the world’s top-ranked players across all three formats in the ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings.
Squad Composition and Key Players
The squad remains largely unchanged from the side that faced Bangladesh in a three-match ODI series earlier this year as part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25. A total of 12 players from that series have been retained, while Nerissa Crafton, Djenaba Joseph and Dottin have been left out. The three new additions to the squad are Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry and Rashada Williams, who will bring experience and depth to the team.
West Indies will rely heavily on Afy Fletcher, who was a standout performer at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, taking 10 wickets in five games. She will spearhead the spin attack alongside Karishma Ramharack, forming a potent bowling combination that can exploit the conditions in Pakistan.
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Captain Hayley Matthews confident ahead of the qualifiers
Speaking about the squad and the upcoming tournament, Matthews expressed confidence in her team’s ability to perform at the highest level. The captain emphasized the strong team chemistry and preparation leading into the competition. Matthews, a world-class all-rounder, will be crucial with both bat and ball as West Indies look to secure their place in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India.
“As we head into the World Cup Qualifiers, we know we have prepared well for this moment. The team environment feels like a family, and we have all been enjoying ourselves out in the park. We trust our skills and each other and are staying focused on playing our best cricket without any distractions. Winning this is a big goal for us as a team, and we’re confident in our chances to perform at a high level,” Matthews was quoted by the Windiescricket.com.
Path to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025
The Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025 will feature six teams: West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, Thailand and Pakistan. The format will be a round-robin tournament, where each team plays against every other team once. The top two teams at the end of the group stage will qualify for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, to be hosted by India.
Several teams, including defending champions Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand, have already secured direct qualification by finishing among the top five in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 standings. They join host nation India, who qualified automatically. West Indies finished eighth in the ICC Women’s Championship standings, missing out on direct qualification, making this qualifier tournament a make-or-break opportunity for them.
West Indies’ squad for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025
Hayley Matthews (c), Shemaine Campbelle (vc), Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
