Power to lead WI women

ST GEORGE’S: The West Indies named newcomers Indomatie Goordial and Felicia Cummings this weekend in a 14-member squad for next month’s Women’s World Cup qualifying cricket tournament in Holland. Goordial, a 17-year-old Guyanese allrounder, is an opener and off-spin bowler, and Trinidadian Cummings is a left-arm spinner. The selectors, noting the short time to prepare a team for the forthcoming international engagement, chose the bulk of players from the last West Indies squad that faced Sri Lanka in March. Wicket-keeper Stephanie Power, a 10-year veteran in the team, has been retained as captain, after leading Trinidad and Tobago to the league and knockout double in the West Indies Women’s Championship that ended on Saturday. Power, who represented the West Indies at the 1993 and 1997 World Cup tournaments, is one of five players from Trinidad and Tobago in the squad — the others being Cummings, Envis Williams, Nelly Williams and Shane De Silva.

The unit includes three teenagers —Goordial, the 19-year-old Vincentian opening bowler Clea Hoyte, and Guyana’s 17-year-old medium pacer Candacy Atkins. The other members of the squad are Grenada’s Debbie-Ann Lewis, St Lucians Nadine George, Doris Francis, Phillipa Thomas and Verena Felicien, and Juliana Nero of St Vincent. The coach is Trinidadian Ann Browne-John, the manager is Vincentian Cinda Bobb and Gus Logie is the technical adviser. The squad will assemble in Trinidad in a week’s time for a 10-day camp prior to their departure to Holland to participate in the International Women’s Cricket Council (IWCC) Tournament from July 19-29.