The Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) has named a 14-member squad to represent the twin-island state in this year’s Leeward Islands Cricket Board (LICB) Senior Men’s Tournament.
All-rounder, Rahkeem “Jimbo” Cornwall, will captain the side during the tournament, which will be hosted by St. Kitts and Nevis from 18th February to 1st March, 2023.
Cornwall, a burly right-arm off-spinner, is one of six players who has been selected from the PIC Insurance Liberta Black Hawks, last season’s winner of the three major ABCA’s domestic competitions – the Super40, the Two-Day contest and the Cool & Smooth T20 Explosion.
Joining Cornwall are fellow Black Hawks colleagues, left-arm pacer, Javier Spencer; off-spinners Kofi James and Karima Gore; leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr. and right-hand opening batsman Malique Walsh.
Cornwall, James and Walsh are also current members of the Leeward Islands Hurricanes, one of the six territorial board teams, competing in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) regional four-day championship.
James, a competent middle and lower-order batsman, will support Cornwall as vice-captain on the senior national team.
Empire Nation’s captain and middle-order batsman, Kenrick Scott, has alsobeen selected. He is joined by fellow Empire Nation teammate, Tyrone Williams Jr.
Williams, an opening batsman, captured the Most Valuable Player award in the ABCA’s first competition of the 2023 domestic season, the ABCA 10 Splash, in which he was instrumental in leading Empire Nation to the title.
The ABCA 10 Splash took place at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium from 5th to 20th January.
Also selected are the Pigotts Crushers’ skipper and allrounder, Elroy Francis Jr., New Winthorpes Lions’ captain and fast bowler, Nino Henry, and Jennings Tigers’ left-arm spinner, Glenton Williams.
The remaining selected cricketers are wicketkeeper/batsman Deran Benta and fast bowler Kelvin Pitman of CUB Bethesda Golden Eagles and Pigotts Crushers batsman, Essan Warner.
Four reserves have also been chosen.
They are All Saints Pythons’ skipper and opener Michael Dover, Bethesda Golden Eagles’ opening batsman Shacoy Floyd, Jennings Tigers’ medium pacer, Jedidiah Martin and Pigotts Crushers’ all-rounder Kadeem Henry.
The team’s head coach is former national left-arm seamer, Pernel “Shafto” Watley, and Purnell “Roxie” Joseph is the Manager and Assistant Coach.
Antigua and Barbuda (Full Squad): Rahkeem Cornwall (Captain), Kofie James, Hayden Walsh Jr, Karima Gore, Deran Benta, Kelvin Pitman, Tyrone Williams Jr, Essan Warner, Elroy Francis Jr, Nino Henry, Glenton Williams, Javier Spencer, Kenrick Scott and Mailque Walsh. Pernel Watley (Coach) and Purnell Joseph (Manager/Assistant Coach).
