THE Guyanese pair Narsingh Deonarine and Mahendra Nagamootoo are the only former West Indies Test players named in a West Indies 18-man squad for the inaugural O40s T20 World Cup set to take place in Karachi, Pakistan next month.

Cricket West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA) congratulates the Guyana and Barbados governments for their continued support. According to CWIMA, a robust squad has been selected, showcasing the talent and experience needed to compete for the championship. Players have been recruited from Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, and the USA, with Guyana contributing the largest number of players. Narsingh Deonarine, a former West Indies Test cricketer, is anticipated to captain the Caribbean team once again, having previously led them to the finals of the O40s World Cup in Pakistan two years ago.

The squad features a balanced mix of youth and experience, with the oldest member, 62-yedar-old Zamin Amin, holding the remarkable distinction of representing the West Indies across all three age categories—O40s, O50s, and O60s—simultaneously. Many players in this lineup participated in last November’s Windies Cricket extravaganza in Barbados, here talents like Larry Babb, Vishan Lall, Antonnel Atwell, Asif Chan, Reno Mittleholzer, Raja Pooran, Randy Ramanan, Lawrence Farnum and Devindra Maharaj displayed their skills at the T20 level.

Twelve nations are expected to participate in this groundbreaking World Cup.

The Government of Guyana has consistently shown support for masters’ cricket both locally and internationally. The potential for sports tourism at this level is significant, and these athletes serve as exemplary role models for the mentorship programme initiated by the Guyana Government to enhance sports development.

Many Masters cricketers also contribute as coaches, umpires, referees, mentors, and administrators at the club level, while promoting healthy lifestyles. Masters cricket has also played a crucial role in engaging families and revitalising the fan base for West Indies cricket.

For these numerous benefits, CWIMA extends heartfelt congratulations to the Masters cricketers and acknowledges the ongoing support from governments such as Guyana and Barbados for Masters’ cricket throughout the region and beyond. An important announcement regarding the next World Cup is forthcoming.

The full 18-member squad includes:

Narsingh Deonarine, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Randy Ramanan, Raja Amit Pooran, Devindra Maharaj, Royston Crandon, Lawrence Farnum, Joel Leacock, Larry Babb, Vishan Lall, Asif Chan, Antonnel Atwell, Reno Mittleholzer, Mohan Chatram, Richard Latif, Devon Clements, Hemraj Garbarran, and Zamin Amin.