CAPTAIN of West Indies Over- 40 team, Denesh Ramdin, is confident the international players will do well at the forthcoming International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-40s World Cup, which gets underway next month in Guyana.
After the team was announced one week ago, Ramdin, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jason Mohammed, Devindra Bishoo, Sewnarine Chattergoon and Rayad Emrit are the other players with international exposure.
According to Ramdin, who led West Indies in 13 tests during his 71 appearances, believes the experience is vital for success at this 45-over, 16-team showpiece which starts October 17.
“I believe we have a strong team to do well; I am happy we have several players with international experience and we know what they are capable of,” Ramdin, the wicketkeeper/batsman stated.
West Indies will open their campaign against Australia at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
Matches split into two zones.
They are two of the eight Group A teams with Namibia, Sri Lanka, Wales, Canada, Colombia and defending champions South Africa being the others.
Group B consists of: New Zealand, England, Pakistan, Scotland, India, USA, Rest of the World X1 and Rest of the Caribbean team.
Sarwan featured in 87 Tests, 187 one-day internationals and 18 T20s for West Indies and that experience will be invaluable for the hosts at the World stage.
“Its good to have Sarwan in the team; he is class player and his wealth of experience will bring a lot to our side as well; but still we have got to play competitive cricket from the start,” the 41-year-old Trinidadian Ramdin revealed.
Matches are fixed for various venues across Guyana with the National Stadium hosting the final on October 31.
For each group, the top two teams will advance to semifinals while the other 12 countries will stay on to compete for placements.
Ramdin added that home advantage will be terrific too and rated pitch conditions excellent.
“Yes, conditions in Guyana generally good for batting and bowling; we are very much familiar with it and that could be an advantage but still competitive cricket is required,” Ramdin, who featured in West Indies T20 winning World Cup teams in 2012 and 2016, commented.
Quizzed on the team’s preparations for this assignment, the right-handed batter responded: “I think fitness is the key and most of the guys are still playing competitive cricket, yes is masters cricket but it still demands good fitness level to do well and I know the boys working hard to stay fit; we have a good, all-round team as well given the fact several guys played in Masters tournaments before,” Ramdin said.