West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran, pacer Shamar Jospeh, and head coach Daren Sammy expressed confidence over their chances in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
For the first time since the 2009 T20 World Cup edition, West Indies are hosting an ICC event as they co-host the 2024 edition along with the USA. This is a very good chance for the Rovman Powell-led Windies side to reclaim their status as the most successful team in the shortest format’s World Cup.
Back in 2012 and 2016, Daren Sammy, who is the current head coach of West Indies, captained the team to T20 WC triumphs in the space of 4 years.
The Windies first defeated Sri Lanka in the final of the 2012 edition before beating the current reigning champions England in the final of the 2016 edition at the Eden Gardens.
Every player in the team will be playing their first World Cup on home soil and their spirits are high as they aim to claim their 3rd T20 WC title.
What did Nicholas Pooran say?
For West Indies to win the ICC T20 World Cup this month, the performance of wicket-keeper batsman Nicholas Pooran is going to be very crucial. The left-hand batter is coming at the back of a decent IPL 2024 campaign with the Lucknow Super Giants.
Nicholas Pooran scored 499 runs at a daunting strike rate of 178.21 and an average of over 60 despite LSG not having a top 4 finish. Then a few weeks later during West Indies’ warm-up game against Australia, Pooran smashed 75 off just 25 balls to help his team set up a total of 257. The Aussies could not chase the total down with Windies winning by 35 runs.
Ahead of the T20 WC on home soil, Nicholas Pooran expressed his delight to play his first-ever WC on home soil. He spoke about the excitement the local people have about the World Cup and also said that the Windies team have an opportunity of a lifetime.
“It’s incredible. I just came back home and everyone is talking about the Cricket World Cup, even people who don’t even have an idea about Cricket. That’s wonderful, I think we have an opportunity here of a lifetime, which is playing the World Cup in front of the people we love,” Pooran told Star Sports.
“We are looking to do great things to bring home the final” – #ShamarJoseph on playing their best cricket to get into the finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024! 💪🏼
Can West Indies win their 3rd title at their home? 👀🏆
📺 | #WIvPNG | TODAY, 6 PM | #T20WorldCupOnStar pic.twitter.com/TsqXwULBhS
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 2, 2024
Shamar Joseph and Daren Sammy looking forward to doing great things
Shamar Joseph then said, “We are looking to do great things to bring home the final. That would be a great thing to remember in the Caribbean,” Joseph said.
Last but not least, West Indies head coach Daren Sammy expressed his confidence about the team’s preparation and how humble the players are.
“We have done the preparation. We have the skills. The confidence within the group, they are a proud set of boys. They are very humble and respectful about this game called Cricket,” Sammy said.