Cricket

West Indies have bolstered their T20I squad with the return of key players Akeal Hosein, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, and Andre Russell for the upcoming series against England. The quartet missed the previous T20I fixtures in Sri Lanka due to personal reasons, but Hetmyer was recalled for the ODIs against England.The squad remains largely unchanged from the one that lost 2-1 to Sri Lanka, with Alick Athanaze, Andre Fletcher, and Shamar Springer making way for Terrance Hinds, Matthew Forde, and Romario Shepherd. Hinds retains his place despite being uncapped, while Forde provides cover for Alzarri Joseph, who received a two-match suspension for walking off the field in the third ODI.West Indies head coach Daren Sammy expressed confidence in the selected squad, stating, "The T20 team is our most settled team with lots of experienced players. However, the difficulty will be picking the eleven, as every single player is challenging for a spot. As we face a very good England team, I am confident that the selected squad will continue to play a brand of cricket that allows us to win games and this 'Rivalry' series."After the two matches in Barbados, the teams will move to St Lucia for the remaining three games. West Indies are expected to confirm their squad for those matches in due course.

West Indies have recalled Shimron Hetmyer to their ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against England, starting in Antigua on Thursday. Hetmyer replaces Alick Athanaze in the squad, marking the only change from the group that recently toured Sri Lanka.Hetmyer's return to the ODI setup comes after a brief absence. He last featured in the format in December 2023, playing a key role in West Indies' 2-1 series victory over England. However, he missed the Sri Lanka tour due to personal reasons.Despite his absence, Hetmyer has maintained his form in domestic cricket. He recently finished fifth on the run-scorers' list at the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). His inclusion in the squad is expected to bolster West Indies' batting lineup.Alick Athanaze, who had been one of the incumbent openers, has lost his spot to Evin Lewis. Lewis, making his first ODI appearance in over three years, impressed with an unbeaten 102 from 61 balls in the third ODI against Sri Lanka.Shai Hope will continue to lead the West Indies team, which also includes 17-year-old batting prodigy Jewel Andrew. Andrew made his ODI debut at the end of the Sri Lanka series and will be looking to make an impact against England.England, led by Liam Livingstone, have already arrived in the Caribbean for their third limited-overs tour since 2022. Jos Buttler, who has been out with a calf injury since July, is still recovering and will not be available for the ODI series."Playing against England always provides a new challenge and reignites a rivalry that the players and the people of the Caribbean are eager for," said Daren Sammy, West Indies head coach. "We West Indies always find a way to raise our game when we face England."The first two ODIs will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, followed by the third ODI in Barbados. The series will then be followed by five T20Is, played at the Kensington Oval and the Daren Sammy National Stadium in St Lucia.

Alzarri Joseph's Frustration Boils Over in Intense CPL ClashIn a thrilling Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024 encounter between the Saint Lucia Kings and the Guyana Amazon Warriors, tempers flared as Alzarri Joseph's frustration reached boiling point.With Guyana closing in on victory, Joseph bowled to Shimron Hetmyer in the ninth over. Hetmyer backed away and punched the ball straight back to the bowler. In a moment of visible frustration, Joseph grabbed the ball and angrily hurled it down towards the batter's end, followed by a sharp stare at Hetmyer.The intensity of the moment was palpable as Guyana needed less than 10 runs to secure victory. However, Hetmyer had the perfect response. On the very next ball, he stepped back and unleashed a monstrous six over long-on, almost sealing the game in style for the Guyana Amazon Warriors.The powerful shot not only brought the chasing side to the brink of ending the match but also served as the perfect answer to Joseph's earlier outburst. In the very next over, the Warriors won by six wickets, chasing down Saint Lucia's modest total of 101 in just 10 overs. Hetmyer remained unbeaten with eight off three balls.The brief but fiery exchange highlighted the competitive spirit of the CPL and left fans talking about the intense clash between bowler and batter. Joseph's frustration was understandable, given the pressure he was under, but Hetmyer's response was a testament to his skill and composure under pressure.

Guyana Amazon Warriors Bolster Squad with Gurbaz, Retain Core for CPL 2024The Guyana Amazon Warriors have made significant moves in preparation for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024 season, signing Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz and retaining key players from their championship-winning squad.Gurbaz, who previously played for the Warriors in 2022, returns to the franchise after a successful stint with the Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). In six matches for the Warriors last season, he amassed 157 runs, including two half-centuries.The Warriors have also retained several overseas players who played pivotal roles in their maiden CPL title triumph last year. Pakistan batters Saim Ayub and Azam Khan, along with South African all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius, will continue to represent the franchise.Among the West Indies players retained are star batsman Shimron Hetmyer, wicketkeeper-batsman Shai Hope, all-rounder Romario Shepherd, and fast bowler Keemo Paul. These players have been instrumental in the Warriors' success over the years.In total, the Warriors have signed 14 players so far, leaving them with three more spots to fill at the draft in July. The franchise will be eager to add depth to their squad and find the right balance to defend their title.The Warriors' title defense will begin on August 30 against the new Antigua and Barbuda Falcons franchise in North Sound. The 2024 CPL season will run from August 29 to October 6, with matches taking place in Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad & Tobago. The final will be held at the National Stadium in Providence, Guyana.With a strong core of players and the addition of Gurbaz, the Guyana Amazon Warriors are well-positioned to make a strong run in CPL 2024 and defend their championship.

Shimron Hetmyer Fined for Code of Conduct Breach in IPL Qualifier 2Rajasthan Royals batsman Shimron Hetmyer has been fined 10% of his match fee for breaching the Indian Premier League (IPL) Code of Conduct during Qualifier 2 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The incident occurred in Chennai on Friday, where SRH emerged victorious by 36 runs.Hetmyer's offense was not explicitly stated by the organizers, but it is believed to stem from his reaction after being dismissed in the 14th over of the chase. Following his dismissal by Abhishek Sharma, Hetmyer attempted to smash the stumps in frustration.The IPL issued a statement confirming the fine: "Shimron Hetmyer of the Rajasthan Royals has been fined 10% of his match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during the Qualifier 2 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on May 24.""Hetmyer committed a Level 1 offense under Article 2.2 of the IPL Code of Conduct. He admitted to the offense and accepted the Match Referee's sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision is final and binding."In the match, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a competitive total of 175 for nine, thanks to Heinrich Klaasen's 34-ball 50 and contributions from Travis Head (34) and Rahul Tripathi (37). The Rajasthan Royals' chase was derailed by the SRH spinners, with Shahbaz Ahmed (3/23) and Abhishek Sharma (2/24) sharing five wickets. Pat Cummins (1/30) and T Natarajan (1/13) also chipped in with wickets.Hetmyer's fine serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining composure and adhering to the IPL's Code of Conduct. As the tournament progresses, players must remain mindful of their actions and avoid any behavior that could result in disciplinary action.

West Indies have unveiled their 15-man squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, with Shimron Hetmyer making a notable return and Shamar Joseph receiving a surprise call-up.Hetmyer, who famously missed his flight to the 2022 T20 World Cup, has been recalled to the fold after a strong showing in domestic cricket. The left-handed batsman has been in impressive form for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), averaging over 40 with a strike rate of 140.Another notable inclusion is Joseph, a 24-year-old fast bowler who has played only three T20s for West Indies. However, his stunning seven-wicket haul in the historic Test win at the Gabba against Australia has caught the attention of selectors.Alzarri Joseph has been named deputy to captain Rovman Powell, while Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, and Jason Holder are all included in the squad.West Indies head coach Daren Sammy confirmed that Sunil Narine was considered for selection but is unavailable due to his retirement from international cricket. Sammy also stated that CWI has requested the BCCI to release West Indies players from the ongoing IPL as soon as possible.West Indies are placed in Group C alongside Papua New Guinea (PNG), Uganda, New Zealand, and Afghanistan. Their first two matches will be played in Providence, Guyana, against PNG on June 2 and Uganda on June 8. They will then face New Zealand at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on June 12, before their final group game against Afghanistan on June 17 in St Lucia.