The West Indies squad for the 2022 World Twenty20 was recently announced officially. Accordingly, CWI had called some senior players like Johnson Charles and Raymon Reifer back to the squad.
In addition, veteran opening batsman Evin Lewis was called up to the squad, and thirty-year-old Yannic Cariah is also part of the squad. Although some big names have been missed, a blend squad of rookies and seniors has been named for this year’s Twenty20 World Cup.
Accordingly, the names of Johnson Charles and Alzarri Joseph representing Saint Lucia Kings were also named in the squad named for the World Cup. Lucia Kings head coach Darren Sammy says it is a surprise that two of the Kings’ best players have made the West Indies squad for next month’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
The 33-year-old destructive opener, Johnson Charles is the second-highest run-scorer in the 2022 CPL so far. He scored 227 runs in 06 matches and is second only to Kyles Meyer of Barbados Royal. Alzarri Joseph is also the highest wicket-taker in the CPL so far, and he has taken 12 wickets in 06 matches to his name.
Saint Lucia Kings’ head coach says Johnson Charles is a player who should have played T20 for West Indies. He explained,
“It’s amazing. Johnson Charles is especially someone, I think, who should have played more T20 cricket for the West Indies.”
Sammy also talked about the century that Charles scored last time in Australia against strong players like Starc, Johnson, and he was very happy to be part of the squad with Joseph.
“He (Charles) is going back to Australia. I remember the last time he was there, he got a brilliant hundred at Sydney against Mitchell Starc, Michael Johnson, and company. So he’s been very consistent. Hence he’s the leading run scorer in CPL (for Saint Lucia). So I’m quite happy to see him back into the lineup with Joseph.”
He made these comments in a video shared by the Saint Lucia Kings official YouTube channel and further comments by the head coach Accordingly, describing Joseph’s talent and his role in the Saint Lucia Kings team,
“It’s a funny story. Last season when we were in the draft and our last pick in the draft was Alzarri Joseph and I remember Andy, myself, and Sankar, the analyst, were looking at how somebody of his caliber, no team wanted him.”
“So we quickly shifted our plans from who we wanted and we gave him a role in the team that suits his bowling, where he controlled the ball more over in the power play, and be the aggressor in the middle. Now you look at him move from playing only Test cricket to One Day cricket now T20 cricket and he’s in very good form.”
Sammy further shared his thoughts on Joseph and was happy with his hard work and the opportunity given to him by the Kings.
“I’m glad that for his hard work and the opportunity that we gave him at the Kings that propelled his white-ball career. And quite happy to have two guys selected from the Kings on the West Indies World Cup squad.”
However, Sammy mentioned that there was no bowling force that could win the T20 World Cup held in 2016, so he was strict about batting. Also, the bowling department plays a crucial role, and in those days, Sunil Narine, Sulieman Benn, and Samuel Badree performed that duty for West Indies.
Darren Sammy, who won the T20 World Cup twice for West Indies, was optimistic about the rest of the squad and the prospects.,
“Obviously, I’m a West Indian. I want them to go out there and do really well. Unlike last World Cup, all the guys who are in that team are guys who are in-form, playing cricket, (and are) fit. We have some X-factor players and the West Indies still have what it takes to go out and win a World Cup.”
“It must have been had for Hayden Walsh Jr to see that scene. he’s been in the squad over the last two seasons. three years you know being the number one spinner but I backed the selectors on the Ford process as to what Squad they put to represent the West Indies and we just have to support the players and hope that they could go out there and give off the best.” Former Captian concluded
West Indies will play their first T20 World Cup match against Scotland on October 17.