It’s WI Women’s time to win T20 World Cup – Aguilleira

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Former West Indies Women captain Merissa Aguilleira believes that the regional side is capable of securing championship honours in the forthcoming T20 World Cup, which starts next month in India.

West Indies women have reached the penultimate stage of the competition on three successive occasions, but the Trinidad and Tobago wicketkeeper-batsman believes that they can go all the way this time.

"I am really excited about this tournament because I truly believe it is time for us to win this T20 World Cup," said Aguilleira.

"It has been three consecutive times we have reached the semi-finals, so it's about time, but I have all faith in the girls, and I truly believe we can cross that mantle."

Aguilleira has been in prolific form since she was relieved from her duties as captain, a title that has been handed to Jamaican cricketer Stafanie Taylor.

She roared to two powerful half-centuries in St Lucia last October to help West Indies Women come from behind to beat Pakistan in an ODI series 3-1 and said consistency would ensure that Windies Women lift the World T20 trophy.

LACKING CONSISTENCY

"I must say consistency because we have been lacking that for quite some time," said Aguilleira, a 10-year veteran who has played 86 ODIs and 73 T20s.

"One minute we are up; next minute, we are down. But I think once we get that consistency going, everything will fall into alignment."

Aguilleira is part of a squad that includes a number of reserve players in a training camp at the West Indies High Performance Centre in Barbados, preparing for a tour of South Africa before the ICC World Twenty20 Tournament in India. They are participating in an on-field training programme as well as a number of personal-development sessions before leaving for South Africa in two batches on February 9 and 10.

"I will be going forward in South Africa with full fire, trying to continue from where I left off in St Lucia," she said.

"I have really been putting in some work so, hopefully, I can go out there and contribute for the team."