Cricket

Phil Simmons, the former West Indies coach who guided the team to the 2016 T20 World Cup title, has joined Papua New Guinea (PNG) as a 'specialist coach' ahead of the 2024 edition of the tournament.Simmons' appointment comes after his second stint as West Indies coach ended following their group-stage elimination at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. Since then, he has worked extensively in franchise cricket, coaching Trinbago Knight Riders, LA Knight Riders, and Karachi Kings.In his new role, Simmons will support head coach Tatenda Taibu, the former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper. Cricket PNG stated that Simmons was recruited due to his extensive experience of local conditions."My role here is as a consultant coach and [will be about] how I put across my experience, not just playing in World Cups but playing in the Caribbean and the things that we should be looking at to make sure we do it right in the Caribbean and especially the venues that we play at," Simmons said."As a player internationally, for fourteen years and then as an international coach for eighteen years, it's been a long time in the game. It's always brilliant to come home, always brilliant to come back to any part of the West Indies. You know how beautiful it is here. I'm looking forward to getting home, which is Trinidad."PNG arrived in St Kitts last week after a four-day journey from Port Moresby. They will train and play various unofficial warm-up matches before facing Oman and Namibia in official warm-up fixtures in Trinidad and Tobago next week.They have been drawn in Group C of the World Cup itself. They will face co-hosts West Indies in their opening match in Guyana on June 2, then play Uganda four days later at the same venue. They will then travel back to Trinidad to face Afghanistan on June 14 and New Zealand on June 17.Simmons praised the energy and enthusiasm of the PNG team. "Their energy is unbelievable: their warm-up alone yesterday got me tired. The guys look like they have settled in really well… I've known the head coach for a long time and he's always energetic. There is always a lot of energy, but the players seem to be pushing him where that is not so, and I like that atmosphere in the team."Batter Assad Vala will lead PNG, who will be playing their second T20 World Cup, after a winless campaign in 2021.

Legendary fast-bowler Curtly Ambrose believes the Rovman Powell-led co-hosts West Indies have a formidable squad capable of capturing an unprecedented third ICC Men's T20 World Cup title when the tournament commences on June 1.West Indies have etched their name in history as two-time T20 World Cup champions, triumphing in 2012 and 2016. However, their recent performances in the tournament have been lackluster. In 2021, under Kieron Pollard's leadership, they failed to advance to the knockout stage, winning only one match in the group phase.A year later, with Nicholas Pooran at the helm in Australia, they were unable to qualify for the Super ten stage. West Indies also missed out on the 2023 Men's ODI World Cup in India after failing to secure a top-two finish in the qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe.Despite these setbacks, West Indies have shown encouraging form in T20Is, registering series victories over South Africa, India, and England at home in the past 14 months. Ambrose believes this recent success bodes well for their chances in the upcoming World Cup."We have a very, very good team," Ambrose said. "As we speak, they are in Antigua at a camp preparing themselves for the start of the T20 World Cup, which is a couple of weeks away.""I believe once the guys start playing consistent cricket and smart cricket, I believe we can take the trophy. It is not going to be easy, but we are one of only two nations to have won it twice, so we are going to try and make it three. And no other nation has ever won it on home soil, so all that is motivation for the guys to do well, and I am hoping they can do it."West Indies are placed in Group C of the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup and will face Papua New Guinea in their opening match in Guyana on June 2. They will then play against Uganda, New Zealand, and Afghanistan in their remaining group stage games.Ambrose anticipates some unexpected results at the upcoming tournament due to the abundance of talented players across all teams. "I admire a lot of cricketers (at the T20 World Cup), and I am looking forward to them doing well," he said."As a proud Antiguan and being from the West Indies, I want the West Indies to win. It is not going to be easy because in T20 cricket, every team has an equal chance of beating any other team, and that is just the nature of T20 cricket. It is going to be exciting, but I am going to be rooting for the West Indies."

Kemar Roach, the veteran West Indies fast bowler, has hailed James Anderson as "one of the greatest" in history as the English legend prepares for his final Test match at Lord's this summer. However, Roach has also issued a challenge to his West Indies teammates to "ruin" Anderson's farewell by defeating England in the series.Roach's comments come after a strong start to the County Championship season, where he took 6 for 46 in Surrey's win over Warwickshire. His international teammates, Jayden Seales and Jason Holder, have also found form playing for Sussex and Worcestershire, respectively.With Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph also in the squad, West Indies will have one of their strongest seam attacks in years when they face England in three Tests from July 10-30. Roach believes that a series win is achievable, despite the potential distraction of Anderson's farewell."It's a very highly talented and skillful group," Roach said. "We've not had the best of times over here in England, so it's more about focusing on us - not what they're going to do for him. He's going to get what he deserves. But it's all about us working hard to get what we deserve, which is a series win over here in England."Roach and Anderson have played against each other in 12 Tests dating back to 2012. "He's a great fast bowler, probably one of the greatest," Roach said. "It's sad to see him go, but we all know you can't play forever. He's done fantastically for England and he deserves whatever he gets."Anderson confirmed on Saturday that the Lord's Test will be his last. "First Test match against us… hopefully, we ruin it," Roach said, laughing. "He's highly respected. He's always given me great advice as well. He will go down as one of the greatest to ever do it. I wish him all the best after that Test match, and hopefully he enjoys whatever comes next."Roach believes that West Indies' seam attack is among the best he has played in. "With Shamar and Jayden Seales now - Alzarri as well - they have added a lot of X-factor to the bowling unit. On any given day, they can have a great spell and be devastating. That is what you want. You just want it as consistently as possible, to have those great days.""To have three guys like that in the team, a captain to have that to select, for any given day or any given surface [is great]. As a group, we are pretty confident. England is always our biggest series… We want to put up a good fight, put on a good show. We haven't won a Test series in England for quite a while so it is good to come with some confidence, and hopefully we can do it this time."Roach turns 36 next month, but his devastating spell for Surrey on Sunday evening proved that he remains a potent wicket-taking threat. He has spent the past two weeks working hard on his "balance at the crease" with bowling coach Jade Dernbach, and found prodigious reverse-swing to dismantle Warwickshire's batting line-up."I felt good," he said. "It's been a tough couple of weeks for me, trying to work on some things, but it's always good to get rewards for some hard work. As a fast bowler, you always want to see the stumps flying around. I'm building with Surrey. [I want to] get myself in good physical shape, the right mental space, and then when it gets to the West Indies tour, I will build on that.""I have no retirement time in sight. I think I can go as long as I want, but obviously it's all on performances. The older you get, you need to have performances to stay in the team. I've been doing well, but I just want to keep helping the youngsters so they're in a good space, mentally and physically. I'll be happy to see those guys going after me and breaking those records if they have to."Roach has two more games remaining in his fourth stint at Surrey, at home to Worcestershire and away at Hampshire, and has helped them secure an early lead at the top of the table in their bid for a third successive Championship title. "To get that win, moving us further up the top of the table, is a fantastic feeling," he said. "Let's continue the hard work, finish off and hopefully go for that trophy."

India's Strategic Spin Quartet for T20 World CupWest Indies pace legend Courtney Walsh has endorsed India's decision to include four spinners in their T20 World Cup squad, recognizing it as a strategic alignment with their strengths.India's selectors have opted for Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja in their 15-man squad, a move that has raised eyebrows. However, Walsh believes it is a wise choice given India's historical reliance on spin bowling."India picking four spinners I'm not surprised... it seems to be their strength," Walsh said. "West Indies have picked three spinners. It's going to be different conditions and everybody has to balance the team."India's captain Rohit Sharma has hinted that the slow and sluggish wickets expected in the West Indies, as well as the unusually early starts, may have influenced their decision. Walsh agrees that these factors could favor spinners."India still have quality fast bowlers, most of the teams do, so it will be a very competitive tournament. The majority of the teams have good-quality fast bowlers and spinners," Walsh said. "It's (the tournament) going to be dominated by the bat possibly. But it is difficult to predict who is going to win it, difficult to predict which bowler is going to be a standout. The teams that execute well will be successful."Walsh also expressed optimism about the West Indies' chances in the tournament, which they will co-host. "I'm expecting them to do very well. It's a nice balanced team and I am very optimistic that they'll play quality cricket. The group is not the easiest but once we reach the super sixes, there's a really good chance."Walsh, who holds the record for the most Test wickets (519), offered advice to India's star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. "Stay fit, have fun. The more you play the more experienced you get," he said. "It's all about managing the injuries well. That will help him become fitter, stronger and better. You can only play if you are fit enough."Walsh also emphasized the importance of protecting young West Indies pace sensation Shamar Joseph, who played a key role in their recent Test victory in Australia. "West Indies have to (protect him), he's got to protect himself. When I watch his interviews he has a very level head, which is very, very good to see. He loves the game, has passion for the game," Walsh said. "I think the West Indies have to make sure to look after him. Keep him injury-free for longevity. It's early days yet but I'm very excited to see what he does."

Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan has showered praise on his star player Andre Russell, calling him a "fashionista" and comparing his camaraderie with Rinku Singh to the iconic Jai-Veeru duo from the movie "Sholey."Russell, a big-hitting West Indies all-rounder, has been a long-time recruit of the two-time IPL franchise. Khan lauded Russell's fashion sense, saying, "He likes to dress well, do his hair." He also revealed that Russell owns designer spikes, including Gucci ones.Amidst the praise, news broke that Russell would be making his debut in a Hindi music video titled "Ladki Tu Kamaal Ki," featuring actress Avika Gor. The first look of the video went viral on social media.Russell's debut in Bollywood as a singer and actor has been met with excitement. The all-rounder has taken the tag of "all-rounder" seriously, extending his talents beyond the cricket field.Former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram, who worked with Russell and Sunil Narine as bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, revealed the bizarre schedule of the West Indies stars during the IPL. Akram said that Narine and Russell stay up all night and sleep during the day when in India for the tournament."When I was a part of KKR, I would wake up early for breakfast. Sunil Narine came for breakfast with swollen eyes. I asked him, 'Hey mate! What's happening?'" Akram recalled. "He said I haven't slept. I said what do you mean I haven't slept. He said I am on West Indies time."Akram added that Russell also follows the same schedule, sleeping during the day and staying up all night.Russell's debut music video, "Ladki Tu Kamaal Ki," is set to release soon, adding another dimension to his already impressive career.

Legendary West Indian batsman Brian Lara has urged India to promote Suryakumar Yadav to the crucial number three position in their batting lineup for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Lara believes that Suryakumar's exceptional skills and abilities make him the ideal candidate to occupy this pivotal spot in the team's batting order.Lara, who is currently providing commentary for the Indian Premier League (IPL), emphasized the importance of getting Suryakumar to the crease as early as possible. He believes that the swashbuckling batsman can put India in an unassailable position if he bats first or win the game if he bats second."My one advice, and I don't know if you're going to like it or not, but Sky has to bat at three. He just has to bat at three. He is one of the greatest T20 players in the game," Lara said. "And you speak to players like Sir Viv, and he will tell you he used to want to get out there in the middle."Lara's suggestion would require a reshuffling of India's top order, with Suryakumar moving up to number three and Virat Kohli potentially opening the innings alongside Rohit Sharma. This would leave Yashasvi Jaiswal on the bench.Lara also expressed his hope for an India-West Indies final at the T20 World Cup, which would make up for the disappointment of India's early exit from the 2007 ODI World Cup in the Caribbean."India and West Indies final is going to make up for so much wrong that has happened in the past. India missing out in 2007 in the second round, that killed us in the Caribbean. We don't want that to happen again," Lara said.Regarding India's spin bowling options, Lara believes that only a couple of the four spinners selected in the squad, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, are likely to play in the starting eleven. He praised Chahal's intelligence and ability to out-think batters, as well as Kuldeep's wicket-taking prowess.Despite the ongoing debate surrounding Kohli's strike rate, Lara believes that players like him are essential to the team's success. "You have to have a player like Virat in the playing eleven," Lara added.

West Indies T20 World Cup Faces Terror Threat, CWI Assures Safety MeasuresThe upcoming T20 World Cup, co-hosted by West Indies and the USA, has been placed under a terror threat from North Pakistan, according to a report by Cricbuzz. The threat, attributed to pro-Islamic State (IS) media sources, incites violence against sporting events and urges supporters to join the battlefield in their countries.Despite the alarming threat, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has reassured stakeholders about the implementation of comprehensive safety measures. CEO Jonny Graves emphasized the organization's close collaboration with authorities in host countries and cities to monitor and mitigate any potential risks."We want to assure all stakeholders that safety and security of everyone at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup is our number one priority," Graves stated. "We have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place."Similar reports have surfaced in Caribbean media outlets. Trinidad Prime Minister Keith Rowley confirmed that security agencies have plans in place to address any threats to matches. Additionally, Barbados regional security officials are monitoring potential threats, and intelligence of a potential threat has been received through pro-Islamic State media group "Nashir Pakistan."The T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 2 to 29, with matches being held in Barbados, Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, St Vincent, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. CWI has emphasized its commitment to ensuring the safety of all participants and attendees.

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.

West Indies' women's cricket team clinched an unassailable 3-0 series lead over Pakistan in the T20I series after a thrilling two-run victory in the third match. The match witnessed a stunning collapse from Pakistan in the death overs, triggered by the brilliance of Hayley Matthews.Matthews, who has been in exceptional form throughout the series, once again led the charge for West Indies with a commanding 68 off 49 balls. Her innings guided the visitors to a competitive total of 132 for 5. Pakistan, in response, looked poised for victory at 115 for 2, with Sidra Ameen anchoring the chase with a well-crafted 63 off 58 balls.However, the match took a dramatic turn in the final overs. Matthews, who had already taken two wickets in the match, struck twice in as many deliveries to spark a stunning collapse. Pakistan lost six wickets for just 10 runs in 20 deliveries, handing West Indies an improbable victory.The hosts' implosion began when Matthews dismissed Ameen with a pinpoint yorker. The next ball, she trapped Fatima Sana in front of the stumps. The pressure mounted on Pakistan as Aaliyah Alleyne removed Nida Dar in the following over.With the momentum firmly in West Indies' favor, the hosts' nerves began to fray. A needless run-out and a rash shot from Sana further compounded their misery. Pakistan's hopes of a series win evaporated as they fell short by a mere two runs.The victory was a testament to the resilience and determination of the West Indies team. Matthews, in particular, was a standout performer, showcasing her all-round abilities with both bat and ball. Pakistan, despite their valiant efforts, were unable to overcome the psychological scars of their previous narrow defeats in the series.