Tarouba: West Indies captain Rovman Powell views the upcoming Group C clash in the ongoing Men’s T20 World Cup against New Zealand at the Brian Lara Stadium as opportune, suggesting the Kane Williamson-led side is currently “undercooked”.
“In this moment, it seems favorable to face New Zealand. They appear slightly underprepared, with significant pressure on them to determine their tournament fate. However, our focus remains on executing our game plan, confident that our performance will speak for itself,” Powell emphasized during the pre-match press briefing.
Reflecting on West Indies’ commanding 134-run victory over Uganda, Powell lauded left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein’s pivotal five-wicket haul. “We expect every member of the squad, including Akeal Hosein, to deliver and demonstrate why they belong in this World Cup team,” he remarked.
With New Zealand seeking redemption after an 84-run defeat to Afghanistan in their opener, Powell expressed optimism about West Indies’ prospects in their upcoming fixtures against New Zealand and Afghanistan within a short span. “Over the past year, we’ve consistently shown strong T20 cricket. Our focus remains internal, aiming to maintain that level of performance despite the World Cup pressure,” Powell asserted.
Eyeing their third T20 World Cup title on home turf, Powell acknowledged the profound benefits for West Indies cricket, both emotionally and economically, should they triumph. “Winning a World Cup at home would be historic for West Indies cricket, bringing substantial economic benefits and raising the profile of international cricket across the Caribbean islands,” Powell concluded optimistically.
