– after included in WI training squad

SHABIKA Gajnabi’s dream is to play cricket for the West Indies, and for the 17-year-old batsman, the reality is just one step away in wearing the maroon colours. 

The Albion resident, who has represented Guyana at both the junior and senior levels, is the lone new face in the West Indies 14-member training squad which was announced recently by Cricket West Indies (CWI).

The 14 players, headed by captain Stafanie Taylor, will be put through their paces at the April 30 to May 30 camp by head coach Hendy Springer and his assistant Stuart Williams, as they intensify preparations for the defence of their Twenty20 World Cup title.

The former Port Mourant Secondary School student, who plies her trade with the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sport Club (RHTYSC), is keen to make her mark, and at the same time, plans to use the opportunity to possibly make the transition in the West Indies line-up.

“It’ feels good. I just want to make use of this opportunity and set a big impact and achieve my goals,” Gajnabi, who has led the Guyana Under-19 side for the last two years, said yesterday during an exclusive interview.

Daughter of a factory worker at Albion sugar estate, a beaming Gajnabi added, “The hard work over the years has now beginning to pay off, so I just want to grab this with both hands, so my childhood dreams of playing for the West Indies can become a reality.”

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the RHTYSC, Hilbert Foster, has hailed Gajnabi’s selection as a testimony to the work of the club.

Foster, who is also the president of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), indicated that the club’s investment into female cricket has been significant.

He noted that Gajnabi is the third female cricketer from the club to have been a part of the West Indies female set-up.

Erva Giddings and Shemaine Campbelle are the other two players from the club to have represented the West Indies.

Foster also praised Metro Office & Computer Supplies, who is the official sponsor of Guyana’s only female cricket team, for their continued support.

In the meantime, Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, said the camp was an important phase of the team’s preparation as it allowed them to access key resources.

“CWI is cognizant of the difficulties and challenges faced by the Women cricketers in getting the best training facilities and world class support in their individual territories,” said Adams.

“Therefore, this is a move by CWI to address that issue, and to get them the relevant support staff to best prepare them for international cricket.”

Batters Kyshona Knight and leg-spinner Afy Fletcher will take no part in the camp because of injury while senior all-rounder Deandra Dottin is unavailable due to personal reasons.

West Indies will play hosts to the ICC T20 World Cup from November 9 to 24.

SQUAD – Stafanie Taylor, Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Shabika Gajnabi, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Reniece Boyce, Felicia Walters, Akeira Peters, Shekera Selman.