WEST INDIES coach Phil Simmons believes the forthcoming T20 and One-Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan could signal a new dawn for the regional team.
The WI begin a three-match T20 series against the hosts at the National Stadium, Karachi on Monday and concludes a bumper year with three ODIs at the same venue from December 18.
West Indies however, are without 'white ball' captain Kieron Pollard, who recently pulled out of the tour owing to a niggling hamstring injury.
The visitors are also without the likes of experienced all-rounders Jason Holder and Andre Russell, left-handed batsmen Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer, all of whom opted out of the tour for varying reasons.
They were replaced by newcomers Justin Greaves, Shamarh Brooks, Gudakesh Motie and Odean Smith, who all earned their maiden call-ups to the ODI team; while Dominic Drakes and Motie have been included in the T20 line-up.
Additionally, veteran all-rounder Dwayne Bravo recently retired from international cricket while 42-yearold Jamaican batsman Chris Gayle remains tight-lipped on his future; both following a dismal display at the ICC T20 World Cup in October.
This series serves as the West Indies’ first white ball tour since their dismal display at the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Nicholas Pooran captains the T20 team while Shai Hope leads the ODI squad.
Simmons sees change on the horizon of West Indies cricket.
[caption id="attachment_928986" align="alignnone" width="731"] In this September 15 file photo, Domnic Drakes of St Kitts/Nevis Patriots hits a six during the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League final against the St Lucia Kings at Warner Park Sporting Complex, Basseterre, St Kitts. - Photo courtesy CPL T20[/caption]
“We’re looking to see who’s going to put their hands up to be a major player in the team. We know what happened in the World Cup and we’re not going to go back there.
“We’re looking to move forward and to see who now wants to go forward with this team with our different ideas, how we want to play and how things are going to change within the squad.
“Not just from a cricketing point of view but from an attitude point of view and everything like that. Those are the things we are looking forward to seeing from this young group,” Simmons said in Friday’s virtual Cricket West Indies presser.
With the next ICC T20 World Cup just under a year away in Australia, Simmons said it’s never too soon to give young players a chance on the big stage to see if they can bring a positive difference to team’s setup.
Pakistan serves a true test to witness what these youngsters have to offer.
“You have a feel of what you have to do (competing). It’s just about them saying that we want to go forward with this team and want to do the things necessary to help this team win.
“And yes, we have an idea of what they (youngsters) can deliver. But they’ve got to go out there and start showing us they can deliver it under pressure; which against Pakistan in Pakistan, is as much pressure as you can get.
