West Indies women have recalled offspinner Anisa Mohammed to the squad as they aim to bank on experience for the upcoming ODI series against Australia, which starts on September 5. Mohammed's last appearance for West Indies came against Pakistan women in February, and, after three wickets across five international games on that tour, she was left out of the squad for the England and Ireland tour.
Mohammed's return is expected to bolster a side without medium-pacer Shakera Selman, wicketkeeper-batsman Chedean Nation and batsman Shemaine Campbelle, who have been ruled out due to injury. Deandra Dottin, one of the side's batting mainstays, who missed the tour of England and Ireland due to a shoulder injury has not been included in the 13-member squad.
The squad included uncapped Guyanese medium-pacer Shabika Gajnabi. The 19-year-old, a three-time captain of the Guyana U-19 team, was rewarded for her all-round performance in Cricket West Indies' Women's Championship earlier this year. Another youngster, Karishma Ramharack, who made her international debut on the tour of England and Ireland, was retained in the squad. The two are expected to provide West Indies with bowling options, said Robert Haynes, CWI's Interim Chairman of Selectors.
"The panel selected the best available players from the camp in Antigua over the last month, as a result of most of our senior players being unavailable due to injury. We have included Anisa Mohammed and Kyshona Knight who have a lot of experience between them, which is required when playing against Australia, the top-ranked women's team."
The three-ODI series will be played in Antigua, with the first match being held at the Coolidge Cricket Ground and the remaining ODIs will be played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on September 8 and 11. The three T20Is will all be held in Barbados, between September 14 and September 18.