Afy Fletcher named vice-captain of West Indies Women

Shakera Selman has been ruled out due to injury. (PC- Twitter)

Afy Fletcher has been named as the vice-captain of the West Indies Women’s team for the fourth and fifth T20 Internationals against New Zealand Women.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s Selection Panel on Wednesday (October 5) confirmed the appointment of Fletcher as the vice-captain of the team for the last two T20Is of the five-match series, against New Zealand Women as hosts are seeking to win the final two games to clinch the T20I series.

Fletcher will take over the role from Shakera Selman after the fast bowler was ruled out of the last two games due to injury. She will act as a deputy for skipper Hayley Matthews. The leg spinner has been a steady performer with the ball in the ongoing series, taking three wickets at just 4.3 runs per over.

West Indies Women took a 1-0 lead in the series with a narrow one-run win in the opener but then slumped to a six-wicket defeat in the second game and a five-wicket loss in the third, to fall behind.

The last two deciding matches will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 October respectively.

Chief selector Ann Browne-John said she anticipates an exciting climax to the ongoing five-match T20I series.

“The final two matches will prove to be very critical to the series as it is poised 2-1 at the moment. It has been an enthralling series with some matches being decided in the final few balls. Some of the young players have started to show great development during the series and it is with anticipation that we look forward to their contributions in the final matches,” said Ann Browne-John, Lead Selector for West Indies Women.

Ann also believes that Afy's experience will bring experience and value to the leadership ground.

“Afy Fletcher has been elevated to the position of vice-captain. Afy is one of the senior players who also is the captain of her regional team as well as being an outstanding international leg-spinner. She will bring the necessary support to the captain at this time.”

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