West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder has rejected claims the team is missing the impact of some of its most explosive players, following a shock opening-day loss to Scotland.
For the first time in decades the team heading into a tournament, without the likes of some of its most experienced T20 campaigners with the likes of Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, and Andre Russell no longer counted among their numbers.
Despite that fact, however, Holder insists the team has plenty of quality at its disposal.
“I don’t think we are missing anyone, I think we have every tool that we need in this dressing room,” Holder said.
In Sunday’s opening Group B encounter, the team suffered a shocking 42-run defeat at the hands of Scotland. The match almost certainly put West Indies in a must-win situation against world number 11th- ranked Zimbabwe, with only the top two teams from the group.
Against Scotland, the team put in a creditable performance with the ball as Alzarri Joseph and Holder himself each claimed two wickets. With the bat, however, the team was once again found wanting. As has often been the case it was spin that proved the undoing of the Windies at the crease. With Mark Watt and Michael Leask leading the way for the Scots, the Windies were bundled out for 118, with only Holder again making an impact with 38 from 33.
For their part, Zimbabwe were impressive in their opener against Ireland, taking the encounter by 31 runs and Holder knows it will take a special effort.
“We are just going to have to dig deep. There is no other way to really put it, we just have to dig deep and bring it together,” Holder added.
The West Indies will face Zimbabwe at 3:00 am on Wednesday.