West Indies captaincy excites Rovman Powell

Jamaican Rovman Powell has found favour with the West Indies hierarchy and was named the new West Indies Twenty20 International (T20) captain yesterday, which he is elated about and has vowed to lead with consummate professionalism.

Powell led Jamaica Tallawahs to their third Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 title as well as guided the Jamaica Scorpions to the regional Super50 Cup last year, which Cricket West Indies Selection Panel referenced as his demonstration of leadership acumen and tactical ability and made the recommendation for him to become West Indies T20 captain.

The Old Harbour native ability while acting as West Indies T20I vice-caption was also used for his elevation.

"I'm truly humbled and grateful to be given this amazing opportunity to lead the West Indies. For me, this is a huge vote of confidence, and I see this as the greatest honour of my career. To be asked to 'carry the flag' for the people of the Caribbean, there's no bigger role in cricket in the region, a job previously held by some of the greatest servants of West Indies cricket.

"I also want to thank CWI for allowing me to guide the team in the coming years as we set sights on the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which we will be jointly hosting with the USA next year. I'm a passionate cricketer who believes in leading from the front and always giving 100 per cent," Powell said.

The first assignment for Powell will be the upcoming tour of South Africa in March, where the West Indies face the Proteas in three ODIs and three T20Is from March 16-28.

Powell is expected to be heavily involved in strategy and planning leading up to the next ICC World T20 tournament, which the West Indies will host with the USA in June next year.

In the meantime, Barbadian Shai Hope has been named as the new one-day international captain, with the Selection Panel stating that he has demonstrated strong leadership on and off the field and has experience in the vice-captain role over several series since 2019.

Hope became vice-captain for a second time in June and played his 100th ODI for the West Indies against India in July. Hope has played 104 ODIs and was recently selected in the ICC ODI Team of the Year.