DHAKA–West Indies captain Darren Sammy arrived in Bangladesh yesterday full of confidence his team is capable of retaining their ICC World T20 title. The allrounder went one step further and boldly suggested it could be a "Windies double" as he believes the West Indies women's team can also bring glory to the people of the region.
Sammy was speaking to members of the media shortly after arriving in Dhaka, where his team will play all their matches. The Women's tournament will be played alongside the men's tournament. Back in 2012 Sammy was at the helm when the Windies won their first ICC World T20 title in Sri Lanka. In that same tournament, the women reached the semifinals.
"We have come here to win again. We believe we have the firepower and the belief to do it again. No team has ever retained the ICC World T20 title and we want to be the first team to achieve that feat," Sammy said. "We spoke to some of the girls and they are really upbeat...we are also backing our women's team to do the job.
"They are a great group and we (men's team) are backing them to also deliver and make it a 'West Indies double' here in Bangladesh. That would be great–something that has never been done before." West Indies will have their first warm-up match against England at Futullah tomorrow. They begin their campaign against India at the Sher-e-Bangla in Mirpur on March 23.
The Windies women will play a warm-up match against South Africa on Tuesday. Their first tournament match will be on Sunday against England at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Sammy also said that his team received great motivation when they met with cricket legends Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Vivian Richards at the recent launch of the West Indies Retired Players Foundation.
The function, which was held in Barbados last Thursday after they beat England in the threematch T20 series at Kensington Oval, was also the official departure reception for the team.
"I just want us to continue improving as a team and being consistent," Sammy said. "In the Caribbean we are blessed to have some of the greatest players and it was a real inspiration to be with them before we left home. They gave us some words of encouragement and that was a boost for the team.
"I heard a speech from Sir Garry and he spoke about being consistent and doing consistently well, and that's what brings the success of a team when you go out and play."
MEN: Darren Sammy (captain), Samuel Badree, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Sheldon Cottrell, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith
WOMEN: Merissa Aguilleira (captain/wicketkeeper), Shemaine Campbelle, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry, Stacy-ann King, Kycia Knight (wicketkeeper), Kyshona Knight, Natasha McLean, Anisa Mohammed, Subrina Munroe, Shaquana Quintyne, Shakera Selman, Tremayne Smartt, Stafanie Taylor
SCHEDULE (Men) March 23: vs India at Shere-Bangla March 25: vs Qualifier at Sher-e-Bangla March 28: vs Australia at Sher-e-Bangla April 1: vs Pakistan at Shere-Bangla April 3: 1st Semifinal at at Sher-e-Bangla April 4: 2nd Semifinal at Sher-e-Bangla April 6: FINAL at Sher-e- Bangla
Women Warm-ups March 18: vs South Africa at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Prothistan, Savar March 20: vs Australia at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Prothistan, Savar
Tournament Matches March 24: vs England at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium March 26: vs Bangladesh at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium March 28: vs Sri Lanka at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium April 1: vs India at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium April 3: 1st Semifinal at at Sher-e-Bangla, Mirpur April 4: 2nd Semifinal at Sher-e-Bangla, Mirpur April 6: FINAL at Sher-e- Bangla, Mirpur