Saint Lucia Kings’ head coach Daren Sammy has said that it is ‘amazing’ that two of the Kings’ in-form players have made it to the West Indies squad for the T20 World Cup in Australia next month.
Johnson Charles and Alzarri Joseph have made the cut from the Kings’ squad. Charles, who has scored 227 runs in this season’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL), is second on the highest run scorers list after six matches played. Alzarri Joseph is the highest wicket-taker of the tournament so far with 12 scalps to his name.
When asked about his thoughts on their selection, Sammy said it was high time Charles made it to the squad. “It’s amazing. Johnson Charles is especially someone, I think, who should have played more T20 cricket for the West Indies,” Sammy said.
“He (Charles) is going back to Australia. I remember the last time he was there, he got a brilliant hundred at Sydney against Mitchell Starc, Michael Johnson and company. So he's been very consistent. Hence he's the leading run scorer in CPL (for Saint Lucia). So I'm quite happy to see him back into the lineup with Joseph.”
Daren Sammy praised Alzarri Joseph’s calibre and how his role in the Saint Lucia Kings’ squad has helped him in white-ball cricket.
“It's a funny story. Last season when we were in the draft and our last pick in the draft was Alzarri Joseph and I remember Andy, myself and Sankar, the analyst, were looking at how somebody of his calibre, no team wanted him,” Sammy shared.
“So we quickly shifted our plans from who we wanted and we gave him a role in the team that suits his bowling, where he controlled the ball more over in the power play, and be the aggressor in the middle. Now you look at him move from playing only Test cricket to One Day cricket now T20 cricket and he's in very good form.
“I'm glad that for his hard work and the opportunity that we gave him at the Kings that propelled his white-ball career. And quite happy to have two guys selected from the Kings on the West Indies World Cup squad.”
The West Indies have won the T20 World Cup twice, both under the leadership of Daren Sammy. When asked about the rest of the West Indian squad and their prospects at the upcoming tournament, Sammy was optimistic.
“Obviously, I'm a West Indian. I want them to go out there and do really well. Unlike last World Cup, all the guys who are in that team are guys who are in-form, playing cricket, (and are) fit. We have some X-factor players and the West Indies still have what it takes to go out and win a World Cup.”
West Indies begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Scotland on October 17.
