On 31 May, Windies will play a Twenty20 International match against ICC World XI, an iconic match to be played very fittingly at the home of cricket, Lord's. The reigning ICC World T20 champions will take on a star-studded World XI side comprising cricketers from as many as eight nations in a bid to raise funds for a cause that is very crucial to not only the Caribbeans but the entire cricketing fraternity.
Reason behind the match
Ronald Webster Park in Anguilla, Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua, Windsor Park in Dominica, AO Shirley Recreation Ground in BVI and Carib Lumber Ball Park in St Martin – will now be refurbished with the funds from the one-off Twenty20 International match between ICC World XI and the Windies at Lord’s on 31 May.
"To have two category 5 hurricanes in the space of two weeks was unprecedented and everyone around the world was shocked by the destruction which was caused," Colin Graves, the ECB chairman, said on February 14, 2018, when the fixture was initiated. "The ECB and CWI have always enjoyed a fantastic relationship and we are keen to support them and the people of the Caribbean in this fundraising initiative."
"Hurricanes Irma and Maria have devastated parts of the Eastern Caribbean and we have been considering how CWI can best show support for our region in the most impactful way," CWI president Dave Cameron said on the same occasion urging the world to get behind the victims of the calamity in the way they know best, ergo, cricket.
Titled, Hurrican Relief T20 Challenge, the financial proceeds from the staging of the much-anticipated premium match will go in the restoration efforts. This will not be the first time that an ICC World XI will take field to develop a philanthropic cause, in 2005 it played an ODI against an Asia XI side in the World Cricket Tsunami Appeal and in 2017, it played the Independence Cup in Pakistan to welcome back full-fledged international cricket into the country after a nearly decade-long hiatus.
Where to watch?
The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports on May 31, 2018 starting GMT 16:00 onwards.
The Windies XI
A side much different from the one that stunned England in the World T20 final in 2016, Windies have introduced some fresh faces while global T20 superstars as the likes of Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine, Darren Sammy and Kieron Pollard are missing, despite the shunned trio claiming to have shown great interest in being a part of the squad. The ever worsening relations between the players and the board don't bode well for the struggling Caribbean side ahead of the ICC World Cup in England next year.
Windies XI: Samuel Badree, Carlos Brathwaite (captain), Rayad Emrit, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Kesrick Williams.
Brathwaite will be looking to reinstate some faith in his credentials as a captain after a lacklustre start to his leadership role. Coming off from a decent back end of an IPL season, he will be full of confidence to put up an inspired show in front of a packed house at Lord's.
Russell makes a comeback to international cricket after serving a 12 month doping suspension. He too has had strong performances to his name representing the Kolkata Knight Riders, his power hitting and wicket taking abilities entirely unaffected by the long absence.
Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis form one of the most explosive opening stands in the world, with four individual centuries in T20Is, the two southpaws are perhaps the biggest match-winners in the game once they tee off. The veteran duo of Denesh Ramdin and Marlon Samuels will have the job to stabilize the batting in case of any turbulence before Russell comes out to wield the long handle.
In the bowling department, they have gone purely for format specialists. Samuel Badree will be touted to take the new ball as is customary to be later followed by Ryad Emrit and Kesrick Williams who are renowned for their suffocating lengths and unaccommodating pace that doesn't allow the batsmen to get under the ball whatsoever in the death overs.
The ICC World XI
After some unavoidable chopping and changing to the squad due to unforeseen injuries, the World XI still looks a decent outfit. Eoin Morgan was the last player to be ruled out, his fractured finger making in room for fellow Englishman Sam Billings. With him ruled out, captaincy got handed over to the charismatic Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi, his flamboyant belligerence expected to add some colour to the side.
ICC World XI: Sam Billings, Shahid Afridi (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Dinesh Karthik, Rashid Khan, Sandeep Lamichhane, Mitchell McClenaghan, Shoaib Malik, Thisara Perera, Luke Ronchi, Adil Rashid, Mohammed Shami, Tymal Mills, Sam Curran
The inclusion of Sandeep Lamichhane has only boosted his meteoric rise in the cricketing world as he will rub shoulders with some of the best representatives of the sport. It will a defining moment not only for him, but for the humble nation of Nepal as well after their dogged performance in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers.
Dinesh Karthik is finally getting his much coveted recognition in the international cricket arena, with his Nidahas Cup final heroics and impressive IPL campaign, both as skipper and finisher getting him a place in the side. With Indian wicket-keeper batsmen setting the stage alight with their performances, Karthik will see this as a great chance to get a one-up on his counterparts.
Shoaib Malik, Thisara Perera, Luke Ronchi and Tamim Iqbal make for an imposing batting line-up with loads of experience being injected into the squad. Afridi, having been on the scene for a little over two decades, has rightly been made captain of a side batting for a cause, will ensure a great viewing for the spectators with his uber aggressive brand of cricket.
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