Windies ‘A’ set for 3-‘Test’ tour of Bangladesh next month

The West Indies ‘A’ team will visit Bangladesh for three four-day “Test” matches against the hosts in May, regional governing body Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced on Monday

The games – with full first-class status – are slated for the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet, starting on May 16, with the second match slated to bowl off seven days later The third and final match starts on May 30

The West Indies ‘A’ team is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on May 11

This series will be only the second ‘A’ men ’ s team tour in the last three years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and it forms a reciprocal arrangement following the Bangladesh ‘A’ team tour of the West Indies last summer

At the time the team engaged each other in two four-day games and three 50-overs List A matches at the Daren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia

“We are again pleased to work closely with the BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) as we confirm the match schedule for this upcoming men ’ s ‘A’ team series,” said Roland Holder, CWI’s manager of cricket operations

“Last summer we had a competitive fivematch series with red ball and white ball matches in St Lucia

“This time around our players will get to experience foreign conditions and this is a vital part of their development in the pathway toward full international selection and provides a platform for further exposure and progress following the recent West Indies Championship and new Headley Weekes Tri-Series ”

The Headley-Weekes Tri-Series comes to an end on May 6

MATCH SCHEDULE

16-19 May: 1st ‘Test’

23-26 May: 2nd ‘Test’

30 May to 2 June: 3rd ‘Test’

Athanaze targets runs, leadership experience in Tri-Series

Alick Athanaze says he is relishing the opportunity to be among the runs again when his Team Weekes clash with high-flying West Indies Academy in the second match of the Headley Weekes Tri-Series

The 24-year-old left-hander was the leading scorer during the recently concluded West Indies Championship with 647 runs at an average of nearly 65, and will be leading Team Weekes when the contest gets underway at Coolidge Cricket Ground on Wednesday

“I would definitely like to get some runs here It’s another opportunity to put my name in the hat [for selection] again,” Athanaze said

“I see cricket as bat and ball and as long as I keep following the same process, most of the times you will do well

“Cricket is also an up and down game but let’s see what happens in this game ”

Alick Athanaze also led Windward Islands

10 points behind Harpy Eagles (84) in the fiveround championship which became a twoteam race late on Athanaze said along with scoring runs in the Tri-Series, he was also focussed on continuing to develop his leadership skills

“It’s a good opportunity [to captain Team Weekes],” said Athanaze, who toured South Africa for the Test series last month but did not play

“I see it as a role for the future and I normally do well when I have added responsibility so I think it can be a very good challenge ”

Athanaze leads a Team Weekes side which includes Test players left-handed opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, all-rounder Raymon Reifer, batsman Devon Thomas and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul

Brandon King, Keacy Carty and Dominic Drakes are all part of the West Indies white-ball setup, leaving Team Weekes well stacked in all areas

“I think it’s a good mixture of boys,” Athanaze explained

“They are the top performers [from the West Indies Championship] so we definitely have a good squad They have been playing good cricket so it will be an exciting match

“It’s good having [the experienced players] around to share all their knowledge [especially with] me in this new role at this level ”

WI Academy stunned a star-studded Team Headley by seven wickets in last week’s opener at Coolidge but Athanaze said he expected his side to be prepared for the challenge

“We personally as a team we ’ re excited to play good cricket and seeing they [Academy] are playing good cricket, it’s more exciting for us Now is the time for us to just keep our heads down and try to put on a good performance ”