WI confident in ‘Sixes’ victory

The eight-team competition will be played on Saturday and Sunday at the Kowloon Cricket Club, Hong Kong.

Team manager Zorol Barthley indicated that his team was upbeat and really looking forward to the tournament.

The team will be captained by Sylvester Joseph and the other members are Deighton Butler, Richard Kelly, Runako Morton, Lendl Simmons, Narsingh Deonarine, and Darren Sammy.

Also joining the side on the flight to London was left-handed opener Devon Smith, who will be with the full Test team that will take on Australia in three Tests next month.

Smith had his flight from Grenada to Barbados delayed on Monday and was forced to travel yesterday.

"I think it is going to be a competitive tournament and I expect us to do very well," Barthley said.

"We have a good team and all our players are on the fringe of the full international squad. With this in mind, they will be going all out to prove their worth.

"The tournament is played at a high standard and it has a high profile. The guys told me they are looking forward to it very much and are very confident. It will be played over a two-day period and with the winner taking US$100,000, that is good motivation to win."

The West Indies is drawn in Pool 2 alongside Pakistan, India and South Africa.

Pool 1 will include England, Australia, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.

England are the two-time defending champions and have won the tournament four times since it started in 1992.

The West Indies’ only victory came in 1996.

The Hong Kong International Sixes is played with six players per team.

Matches are five overs per team, with five players bowling one over each and the other acting as wicket-keeper.