Ball-smashing T20 star Chris Gayle believes the West Indies could struggle at the upcoming World Cup, a tournament that they will head into with a new generation of players.

For the first time in decades, the likes of Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, and Andre Russell will not be a part of the team.  While Bravo and Pollard have retired from international cricket, Russell was not selected for the squad after an indifferent run of form.

Instead, the unit will feature the likes of burgeoning T20 star Nicholas Pooran and a host of other talented players yet to prove themselves on the international stage for the Caribbean team.

"It will be very difficult for the West Indies team as the captain of the team is new and there is no Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, and Bravo in the team," Gayle told India daily Dainik Jagran.

Despite the relative lack of experience, Gayle believes the team’s talent could, however, make them a dangerous prospect for any opponent on a given day.

"Yes, it is definitely that the players who are included in the West Indies team are talented and can prove to be dangerous for any team. As everyone knows it is just a matter of adapting your strategy in the right way on match day. I hope the team plays well," he added.

The West Indies will bow into action with a Group Stage encounter against Scotland on Sunday.

Wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble smashed a century to help Berbice secure a sizeable 189 run win over Demerara in the Guyana Cricket Board’s Senior Inter-County 50-over championship on Monday.

Watched by a fair-sized crowd at Bourda, Berbice won the toss and opted to bat first in a game reduced to 45 overs due to early morning rain.

It proved to be a good call by captain Veerasammy Permaul, as Berbice proceeded to dominate the Demerara bowling attack.

Bramble and 19-year-old debutant Rampertab Ramnauth set the tone for the innings with a 91-run opening partnership in 14 overs. Ramnauth made 36 off 50 balls (4x4s).

Bramble and West Indies left-hander Shimron Hetmyer then proceeded to put the game beyond Demerara, adding 105 for the second wicket in just 12.4 overs.

Demerara found some relief when Bramble was trapped leg before for 106 off 83 (14x4s, 2x6s), and Hetmyer was dismissed shortly after for 58 off 46 (2x4s, 3x6s) at 230-3 in the 32^nd over, but that only opened the floodgates as Jonathan Foo and Romario Shepherd went into T20 mode.

The pair racked up 88 in 8.4 overs for the fourth wicket to deny Demerara any chance of making a fightback. Shepherd hit two fours and four sixes in a whirlwind 40 off 28 balls, and Foo slammed 71 off 45 (5x4s, 4x6s).

Kevin Sinclair chipped in at the end with 15 not out off nine balls, as Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed took 3-66 off his nine overs.

Faced with a stiff target against a potent bowling attack, Demerara slipped to 6-2 with Chandrapaul Hemraj and Tevin Imlach both falling for two.

Opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul and skipper Leon Johnson put on 85 for the third wicket, but once both were dismissed and Christopher Barnwell soon followed, the damage was done.

Johnson top-scored with 51 off 47 (7x4s, 1×6), Chanderpaul made 39 off 50 (4x4s, 1×6) and Akshyana Persaud scored 37 off 25 (1×4, 4x6s) as Demerara folded to Berbice’s spin-heavy bowling attack.

The hosts were eventually dismissed for 174 in 29.3 overs with left-arm spinner Permaul taking 3-30, off-spinner Kevin Sinclair 3-42 and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie 2-32.

Summary: Berbice 365-6 from 45 overs (Anthony Bramble 106, Jonathan Foo 71, Shimron Hetmyer 58, Romario Shepherd 40, Rampertab Ramnauth 36; Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed 3-66) vs Demerara 174 all out from 29.3 overs (Leon Johnson 51, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 39, Akshaya Persaud 37; Veerasammy Permaul 3-30, Kevin Sinclair 3-42, Gudakesh Motie 2-32)

Meanwhile at Everest, a century from Kemol Savory and 92 not out from Kevon Boodie helped Essequibo secured an eight-wicket victory over the GCB President’s XI.

The President’s XI batted first and recovered well from being 90-5 to post 237-8, thanks to some lower-order batting from Shamar Joseph and Kwesi Mickle.

Joseph made a top-score of 67 not out off 47 balls including seven fours and three sixes while Mickle played second fiddle with 40 off 86 (1×4, 2x6s). Suresh Dhanai chipped in with 30 off 26 (4x4s, 1×6) and opener Matthew Nandu made 27 off 34 (3x4s).

Bowling for Essequibo, left-arm spinner Anthony Adams was excellent with figures 3-14 off 10 overs, including 52 dot balls, while Ricardo Adams took 2-40 off 10.

The good recovery by the President’s XI when they batted meant Essequibo had a larger target than they initially anticipated, but any nerves were quelled by Savory and Boodie's crucial second-wicket partnership.

After the early loss of Nathan Persaud for 11, Savory and Boodie dominated the President’s XI bowling attack in a partnership of 163.

Boodie, the aggressor, smashed 11 fours and two sixes from his 102 deliveries.

Once he departed, Savory took centre stage, coasting to a magnificent hundred and sealing the victory.

His unbeaten 108 spanned 106 balls and included eight fours and three sixes. Keyron Fraser and Akini Adams were the wicket-takers for the President’s XI.

Summary: GCB President’s XI 237-8 from 50 overs (Shamar Joseph 67*, Kwesi Mickle 40, Suresh Dhanai 38, Matthew Nandu 27; Anthony Adams 3-14, Ricardo Adams 2-40) vs Essequibo 240-2 from 41.3 overs (Kemol Savory 108*, Kevon Boodie 92, Keyron Fraser 1-19, Akini Adams 1-40)

The second round of the competition will take place on Wednesday with Berbice playing Essequibo at the GCC ground, Bourda, and Demerara up against the President’s XI at Everest.

Trinidad & Tobago and West Texas A&M midfielder Asha James has been named the Lone Star Conference’s women's soccer Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.

James led the West Texas A&M Lady Buffaloes to a 1-0-1 week to improve to 8-1-1 on the season.

James was instrumental in their 3-2 win over UT Tyler last Saturday as West Texas A&M improved to 8-1-1 on the season. The junior placed two of her three shots on goal, including her game-tying strike off a corner kick in the 58th minute.

The Trinidad and Tobago midfielder found Maliyah Mendoza in the 66th minute to provide the game-winner on another set piece from the corner.

The 22-year-old has made three appearances for the Trinidad & Tobago since her debut in 2019.

Student-athletes across Jamaica are set to benefit again from the World Class Athletics training camps provided by the MVP Track & Field Club.

Defending champions Garvey Maceo secured a 2-0 home win over their closest challengers, Vere Technical, to take over top spot in Zone N of the ISSA/Digicel daCosta Cup on Saturday.

Penalties from Nevaughn Myrie in the 48^th minute and Orlando Lawrence in the 91^st means Garvey Maceo now find themselves top with 13 points from five games, three points ahead of their Saturday opponents. Foga Road also has 10 points in third thanks to a 1-0 win over Kemps Hill at home.

Irwin, after three straight draws, returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Green Pond at Green Pond to remain top of Zone A. They now have 18 points from eight games. Green Pond has 10 points from seven games and started the day in second but were passed after 12-time champions Cornwall College secured a crucial 4-0 win over Anchovy at Irwin to move to 12 points from their seven outings.

At the Orchard Sports Complex, Frome Technical comfortably beat Hopewell 5-1 for their sixth win in as many games to lead Zone B ahead of Rusea’s who has 15 points from their six games.

William Knibb leads Zone C with a perfect 15 points from five games after a 9-0 hammering of Muschett High at Muschett. So far, they have amassed 33 goals and are one of only two teams yet to concede a goal in this year’s daCosta Cup, the other being Zone E leaders STETHS. Cedric Titus can also boast a perfect record through five games in Zone C after a 2-1 win over Herbert Morrison at Herbert Morrison.

The only Zone D game on Saturday saw Petersfield got to Godfrey Stewart and get an important 4-1 win over the hosts to strengthen their hold on second in the zone. Going into the game, Petersfield had 12 points, 10 behind leaders Manning’s, while Godfrey Stewart had nine but had played one more game than their opponents.

STETHS are still perfect after eight games in Zone E thanks to a comfortable 6-0 win over Sydney Pagon at home. As previously mentioned, the five-time champions have still yet to concede a goal and have scored 20. In the day’s other zone game, Munro College beat Maggotty 1-0 at home to join B. B Coke on 13 points from eight games, eleven points behind the leaders from St. Elizabeth.

Zone G leaders Holmwood Technical were held to a 0-0 draw by Mile Gully at home to move to 14 points from six matches, four points ahead of Christiana High who beat Alphansus Davis 2-1 at Alphansus Davis. Mile Gully also has 10 points in third. Christiana has played a game less than both Holmwood and Mile Gully.

Clarendon College now has 18 points from a possible 18 in Zone H after a 3-0 win over Lennon High at Toll Gate. Edwin Allen are now seven points behind in second after a 5-0 win over Thompson Town at home. Lennon are four points behind Edwin Allen in third.

Marcus Garvey got their first win of the season in their sixth game in Zone I by beating Ocho Rios 1-0 at Drax Hall.

There were 17 goals in three games in Zone J. Westmoreland Oval was the venue as leaders Tacky and Annotto Bay battled to a 3-3 draw. Tacky now have 16 points from eight games. St, Mary High moved within three points of Tacky in second thanks to a 3-1 win over Wycliffe Martin High at the latter. St. Mary Tech are third with 11 points after going to Horace Clarke and beating the hosts 4-2.

Fair Prospect battled to a 4-4 draw with Port Antonio at home in Zone O for their first point of the season while leaders Happy Grove and second-placed Titchfield both have nine points from five games after a 2-2 draw at Hector’s River.

Former West Indies captain Sir Richie Richardson received an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) for his contribution to sport at the UWI Five Islands Campus graduation ceremony on Saturday.

Speaking at the event in Antigua and Barbuda, Richardson, 60, urged Caribbean people from “small islands” to never look at themselves as being small, because they all had big hearts and could compete with anyone in the world.

Richardson told the graduating class of 2022 that he was proud to be an ambassador for Antigua and Barbuda, and proud to represent the region as a cricketer.

He said he, Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Curtly Ambrose, and Sir Andy Roberts were committed to developing the Four Knights Cricket Academy, which opened in 2015 in Antigua and Barbuda, to identify and support emerging cricket talent. He believed once the people of the WI remained focused and disciplined, it could keep producing outstanding cricketers.

“I remain optimistic and hopeful that the WI will return to being the best cricketing team in the world someday, hopefully pretty soon.”

Richardson encouraged the audience to remember where they came from and the opportunities they got because of their people and country. He added that having received higher education, they were the beginning of a cultural change in their families, communities and countries. They now had to find their niche and excel at it.

“It is important that you know your history and identity and use it to cultivate your present and your future. We are all from small island developing states and the harsh reality is that many persons in other parts of the world are not even aware of what our respective Caribbean islands are called or what ethnicities and cultures make up our people.

“But you can change this as you utilise your knowledge to strengthen sectors and create awareness of our existing cultures.”

He recalled, as a young man, wanting to be like great West Indian batsmen of the past, and wanting to make an impact on the world stage, which “lit a fire” in him for the game and to succeed.

Richardson represented the West Indies in 86 Tests from 1983-1995, scoring 5949 runs at an average of 44.39 with 16 centuries and 27 half centuries.

He also represented the region in 224 ODIs from 1984-1996, scoring 6248 runs at an average of 33.41 with five hundreds and 44 fifties.

Brandon King scored a half-century and Raymon Reifer claimed three wickets as the West Indies won their warm-up match against the United Arab Emirates at Junction Stadium by 17 runs on Sunday night.

It was not an easy win for the Caribbean men who would have suffered jitters when medium pacer Junaid Siddique took career-best figures of 5-13 to restrict West Indies to 152-9 from their 20 overs.

The West Indies owed their eventual match-winning score to a 95-run fourth wicket partnership between King and Captain Nicholas Pooran that spared the Caribbean men blushes after UAE won the toss and decided to bowl.

It seemed the right decision as the West Indies were struggling at 22-3 inside the Powerplay.

The dismissal of Evin Lewis (2), Johnson Charles (1) and Sharmarh Brooks (4) brought King and Pooran together in the fifth over and together they dragged the West Indies into a position of relative strength.

The West Indies captain hit five fours in his 31-ball 46 before he was bowled by Zahoor Khan, who had earlier dismissed Brooks. It was then 117-4 in the 15^th over.

The loss of Pooran’s wicket saw the West Indies slip to 122-7 as Siddique, who had earlier removed Charles, scythed through the middle order with three wickets in four balls claiming Reifer for one, King for 64 and Akeal Hosein without scoring.

King's runs came from 45 balls and included seven fours and two sixes.

Siddique picked up his fifth wicket in the 18^th over when he bowled Odean Smith for five.

Alzarri Joseph helped the West Indies past 150 with 15 well-needed runs from 11 balls before being the last man out, leaving Rovman Powell unbeaten on seven and Obed McCoy on four at the end.

Khan ended with 2-24.

Needing 153 for victory, UAE were 19-1 at the end of three when McCoy dismissed Chirag Suri for nine.

Muhammad Waseem and Vriityia Avarind took the score to 50 in the eighth when Reifer dismissed the latter for nine and CP Rizwan for one in the space of four balls as UAE slipped to 52-3 in the ninth.

The UAE ran into further trouble three balls later when Evin Lewis ran out Aayan Afzal Khan for a duck.

Waseem and Basil Hameed inched the score along to 66 by the 13^th over when Reifer claimed his third after dismissing Hameed for five. It was soon 82 for 6 in the 16^th when Odean Smith dismissed Kashif Daud for seven.

With nothing to lose UAE went for broke smashing 53 from the final 26 balls.

Waseem brought up his 50 with a six from the last ball of the 17^th over bowled by McCoy that yielded 16 runs. The pair also took 15 from the 19^th bowled by Alzarri Joseph, whose last ball was smashed for six by Zawar Farid, who ended unbeaten on 29 from the 14 balls he faced.

Waseem’s heroic unbeaten 69 came from 52 balls and included four fours and three sixes as UAE closed on 135-6.

Reifer took 3-13 while Odean Smith had figures of 1-20 from his four overs. McCoy gave up 49 runs from his four overs.

Real Salt Lake and Orlando City both claimed Decision Day victories to book their spots in the 2022 MLS playoffs on a dramatic final day of the regular season.

RSL moved above Portland Timbers into the last playoffs spot in the Western Conference with their 3-1 victory, while Orlando achieved the same feat in the east after beating Columbus Crew 2-1 after a late penalty.

Pablo Mastroeni's RSL will take on two seed Austin in the first round of the MLS playoffs, navigating their way past Portland who started the day in sixth spot, but dropped to eighth, with Minnesota United also qualifying with their 2-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps.

Jefferson Savarino settled any nerves for RSL, who had claimed only three wins from their past 17 games, by curling in a 19th-minute opener before Rubio Rubin's deflected shot doubled their lead in the 48th minute.

Bode Hidalgo sealed RSL's playoffs spot with a classy finish in the 82nd minute, with Dairon Asprilla scoring a late consolation for the Timbers.

Minnesota, who will take on Dallas in the first round of the playoffs, got their win after Franco Fragapane's low 17th-minute drive. Jonathon Gonzalez added a second with a left-foot volley in the 77th minute to seal the Loons' spot.

Hany Mukhtar was confirmed as the MLS Golden Boot winner with 23 goals, although he did not score as Nashville locked in the five seed with a 1-0 win over Supporters Shield winners LAFC.

Teal Bunbury scored the only goal in the 53rd minute, with Nashville to face LA Galaxy in the playoffs. Galaxy beat Houston Dynamo 3-1 with Riqui Puig and Javier Hernandez among the scorers.

Facundo Torres converted an 84th-minute spot kick to send Orlando into the playoffs with a 2-1 victory over the Crew. The Lions will take on Eastern Conference two seed Montreal.

Columbus came into the game one point ahead of Orlando and had gone ahead through Derick Etienne in the 38th minute.

Junior Urso leveled for Orlando in the 56th minute before Milos Degenek's handball led to Torres' decisive penalty, condemning the Crew to missing the playoffs.

Cincinnati clinched their spot in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, leapfrogging up into the five seed slot, with their 5-2 win at struggling DC United.

Brenner hit a hat-trick for Cincy, who will take on New York Red Bulls in the playoffs. The Red Bulls won 2-0 over Charlotte after Elias Manoel's double to secure the four seed.

Inter Miami lost 3-1 at home to Montreal, meaning Phil Neville's side slipped to the six seed and will take on reigning MLS Cup champions New York City. City beat Atlanta United 2-1 to clinch the three seed.

In other games, Seattle Sounders and San Jose Earthquakes drew 2-2, Chicago Fire drew 1-1 with New England and Austin and Colorado Rapids ended 1-1 after Diego Rubio's late equalizer for the visitors.

Eastern Conference winners Philadelphia Union thrashed Toronto 4-0 with Daniel Gazdag netting a hat-trick, while Western Conference three seed Dallas got past Sporting KC 2-1.

Discarded West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer has been selected by defending champions Berbice for the 50-over Inter-County Championships set to bowl off on Monday.

Barbados is to get a new national stadium following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Caribbean nation and China on Friday.

Attorneys representing Jamaica and West Indies opening batsman John Campbell have expressed disappointment at the decision of an independent anti-doping panel to ban the cricketer for four years effective May 2022.

Campbell was charged with evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection in April 2022. In their 18-page ruling, the panel said in part: "The panel is persuaded to a comfortable degree of satisfaction that the athlete committed an anti-doping rule violation, namely a breach of JADCO rule 2.3. The panel does not find, on the evidence presented, that the athlete's anti-doping violation was not intentional.

"In the circumstances of this case, the athlete is ineligible for a period of four years."

This means the 29-year-old batsman will not be able to play cricket until he is 33 years old, which could significantly impact his ability to represent the West Indies beyond 2026.

Campbell has scored 888 runs in 20 Tests for the West Indies.

In response to the ruling, attorneys Ayana L. Thomas and Mark-Paul Cowan of the noted legal firm Nunes Scholefield Deleon and Co. made clear their disappointment and did not rule out appealing the judgement.

“Mr Campbell has been a clean athlete throughout his outstanding career as a batsman and he remains committed to a clean sport,” the statement read.

“It is important to emphasize that the allegations against him was not relating to an adverse analytical finding or banned substances. The allegation concerned refusing or failing to submit a sample collection after proper notification pursuant to Article 2.3 of the JADCo Anti-Doping rules.

“Our client has to date, never returned an adverse analytical finding for banned substances.”

According to the attorneys, JADCO committed several breaches of the International Test Standards (IST).

“We have read the written decision of the disciplinary panel and believe there are legitimate grounds for an appeal concerning whether the necessary ingredients to sustain the alleged anti-doping rule violation were proved before the panel particularly as it relates to the notification requirements,” the lawyers said.

“Mr Campbell’s position was that he was not properly notified by JADCO. There were several breaches by JADCO of the mandatory International Testing Standards and Investigations in respect of the notification of the athlete of which, in our view, were not adequately addressed by the panel.”

That matter was not the only issue concern for Campbell’s attorneys.

“Additionally, there were several mitigatory factors supported by evidence which were not challenged by JADCO and which ought to have been mitigated against the imposition of the maximum penalty,” they said, “even if the panel found that the athlete committed a violation.

“It does not appear from the written decision that these factors in mitigation were adequately considered by the panel.

“Our client will, therefore, at this time, consider exercising his right of appeal after further consultation with his legal team and will make a decision shortly.”

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Dinthill Technical now have nine wins in as many games after a 1-0 home victory over Guys Hill in Zone K of the ISSA/Digicel DaCosta Cup on Friday.

McGrath High tightened their grip on second in the zone with a 3-0 win over Enid Bennett at the Bybrook Sports Club to move to 21 points from their nine games, five points clear of Charlemont who drew with Ewarton 1-1 at the Ewarton Sports Complex.

Glenmuir got their fourth win in as many games to move within three points of the top of Zone M. A 7-0 win over Tacius Golding at the Port Esquivel Sports Club means that they now have 12 points from four games, three behind leaders Central High who beat Old Harbour 3-2 at Effortville to move to 15 points from six matches.

Manning’s returned to winning ways with a comfortable 4-0 score-line over Belmont Academy at home. They now lead Zone D with 22 points from eight outings. Black River and Grange Hill played out a goalless draw at Black River in Friday’s other zone clash. Second-placed Petersfield (12 points from six games) and third placed Godfrey Stewart (nine points from seven games) will do battle on Saturday.

In the lone Zone I fixture, Oracabessa and Browns Town played out a 1-1 draw at Clemhard’s Park.

B.B Coke beat Lacovia 2-0 at home to move to second in Zone E. They now have 13 points from eight games, trailing leaders STETHS by eight points and moving two points clear of Munro College in third.

Belair High strengthened their hold on the lead in Zone F with a 2-1 win over Bellefield at Bellefield, their sixth win in a row. They now have 18 points from seven games, three more than DeCarteret College who won 4-1 over May Day at May Day to move past Manchester into second with 15 points from seven games. Manchester has13 from six games and will play May Day on Monday.

Jamaica international Adrian Mariappa has returned to English football with League One team Burton Albion following a brief spell in Australia.

The 36-year-old defender made somewhat of a surprising move after signing with Australian club Macarthur, where he made 19 A-League appearances.  Prior to that, Mariappa was a regular feature in English football, particularly for Watford where he made more than 300 appearances over two spells. 

In addition, Mariappa also played for the Hornets and made appearances in the Premier League with Reading and Crystal Palace.  The deal is initially on a short-term basis but Burton manager Dino Maamria believes his experience will be invaluable.

"He brings a lot of good experience," said Maamria.

"He's a good talker on the field and he adds another option for us.

"He's kept himself fit - his last game was just two weeks ago for Jamaica against Argentina. He had a good season in Australia last year, so he's been at a high standard."

Mariappa has made 64 appearances for Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz and most recently featured for the team against Argentina.