The 2016 World Twenty20 champions, West Indies Women’s cricket team are going to tour Pakistan for a 3-match T20I series starting in Karachi, on January 31. However, a week ahead of the series, skipper Stafanie Taylor has surprisingly stated that given a major jolt to her team by announcing that she won’t be part of the tour.
Taylor has cited security concerns and will only join the squad for the following one-day international series in the United Arab Emirates. In their latest statement, the Cricket West Indies (CWI) said, “Following the detailed security plan from the PCB and the independent security assessment, Stafanie Taylor has opted out of touring Pakistan.”
Only a handful of international cricket matches have been played in Pakistan since an attack on the Sri Lankan men’s team bus in Lahore in 2009 which killed six police officers and two civilians and injured six members of the Lankan team.
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Zimbabwe played five matches in Lahore in 2015, while Sri Lanka returned to the country for the first time since the attack in 2017 as efforts have increased to return regular internationals to Pakistan.
Talking about the same, CWI chief executive Johnny Grave said, “This tour is a further major step for our friends at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to bring their cricket back home, and we are pleased that our players and support staff have recognized this and agreed to play the T20Is in Pakistan.”
Merissa Aguillera will be taking the captaincy reins in the absence of Taylor for the T20Is as the West Indies look to bounce back from their semi-final loss on home soil to Australia in the World Twenty20 last November.
Windies women’s full Squad for the upcoming WT20I and WODI series against Pakistan women: Stafanie Taylor (ODI capt), 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.
The full schedule of Windies women tour of Pakistan and UAE in 2018/19
(Three-match WT20I series)
31st January: First WT20I – Southend Club Cricket Stadium (Karachi)
1st February: Second WT20I – Southend Club Cricket Stadium (Karachi)
3rd February: Third WT20I – Southend Club Cricket Stadium (Karachi)
(Three-match WODI series)
13th February: First WODI – Dubai International Cricket Stadium (Dubai)
16th February: Second WODI – ICC Academy Ground (Dubai)
20th February: Third WODI – ICC Academy Ground (Dubai)
