The host team is more talked about than two players. Shamar Joseph- He shone in the Test series against Australia earlier this year and is now ready to make his debut in T20 International. Shimron Hetmyer returns after missing the T20 series against Australia – In the current IPL, he performed well with Rajasthan Royals in the role of a finisher and scored 83 runs in 7 innings but at a strike rate of 184+.

West Indies Cricket Director Desmond Haynes claims that every player in the team was selected according to a specific role after a long debate. Reserves have also been decided but the names will be revealed after West Indies A's Nepal tour and home T20 series against South Africa. Due to the South Africa series, a training camp was organized in Antigua in April itself and hence, on the demand of white ball coach Sammy, BCCI was asked to release the West Indies players from the IPL as soon as possible.

The hosts are in Group C along with Afghanistan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Uganda and the two-time champions have additional pressure on them. The best performance so far in this tournament is winning the title in 2012 and 2016.

Strongest aspect of the team: The team has many big hitters and all-rounders like Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd, due to which the team has many options. Apart from this, how can we ignore the advantage of being their host? They will play all four of their group matches on their own pitches.

Weakness of the team: Everyone is talking about the benefits of being the host, but how can we forget that no host has won yet. No host has played the final since 2012 (Sri Lanka). Look at the graph of the Hetmyer we are talking about: He was left out of the 2022 T20 World Cup team due to missing his flight, out of the team for the last two T20s against England, also out of the white ball team for the Australia tour. 24-year-old pacer Shamar Joseph has played only 3 T20s and has not even made his international debut in this format – how much can we trust him? He came to Lucknow Super Giants team but when he gave 47 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders on his debut, he also sat on the bench. Economy rate in his 3 T20s is 9.91 runs and has not taken a single wicket yet. Because of him, there was no space for fast bowler Matthew Ford. Just like that
Hetmyer left out Kyle Mayers – look at the equation: a regular opener and a useful medium pacer out and picked a finisher. Sunil, who showed amazing form in the IPL, could not even convince Narine to play.

West Indies are also taking the big name of Brandon King, but the truth is that he was selected despite not being fit – due to a knee injury, he did not go on the Nepal tour with the West Indies A team. There is talk of him playing in the T20 series against South Africa. If not fit then there is time till May 25 to make changes in the team.

These players will be kept an eye on: 24-year-old fast bowler Shamar Joseph, who will make his international debut in this format after only 3 T20 experiences. Brandon King is also talked about a lot in West Indies. The only off-spinner in the team is Roston Chase – who is considered an all-rounder and the 'most economical bowler' and can play the same role in the West Indies team that Marlon Samuels played in the victory.

How will the performance be: The team is in Group C along with Afghanistan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Uganda. According to your record, you should reach Super 8. Semi-finals can be played ahead of this. The team is ranked No. 6 and priced at 10/1 in the British betting market – the same as Pakistan. One has to work hard to play good cricket. They are two-time champions (2012 and 2016) but their performance in the last two tournaments has been very poor – in 2021, under the captaincy of Kieron Pollard, they did not play the knockouts after winning only 1 match in the group round and a year later in Australia. Under the captaincy of Nicholas Pooran, he could not even make it to the main round.

Team: Rovman Powell (captain), Alzarri Joseph, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Moti, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd.

Group match schedule and Indian match time

June 02, 2024, Providence Stadium, Guyana – 8.00 PM vs Papua New Guinea
June 09, 2024, Providence Stadium, Guyana – 6.00 am vs Uganda
June 13, 2024, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago – 6.00 am vs New Zealand
June 18, 2024, Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St. Lucia – 6.00 am vs Afghanistan

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