Though acknowledging the challenges posed by limited preparation time, West Indies women’s Under-19 assistant coach Shane Brooks remains optimistic about the team’s chances as they prepare to embark on their ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign in Malaysia.

Brooks, a Jamaican who serves as deputy to head coach and compatriot Robert Samuels, pointed out that the young squad, which is determined to make their mark on the global stage, continues to build confidence through their preparation.

The young West Indies women, led by 17-year-old all-rounder Samara Ramnath, are set for a challenging Group A opener against defending champions India on January 19 at the Bayeumas Oval.

Ramnath, who spent her summer as part of the Trinbago Knight Riders squad in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League, is keen to make an impact both as a leader and a player. She will be assisted by vice-captain Asabi Callender, St. Kitts and Nevis’ footballer turned cricketer Jahzara Claxton, who is a medium fast bowler, and all-rounder Naijanni Cumberbatch, all returning for their second ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup.

“We are confident and believe that we have as good a chance as any. Yes, the team is a little inexperienced, and we would have loved more time to prepare in terms of their technical, tactical, and mental skills, but we had two camps prior to arriving here a week early to acclimatize to the conditions,” Brooks told SportsMax.Tv.

“It has been good so far; the girls are adapting and improving in every session and looking forward to the practice games this week. We are here to compete, to give our best, and we believe we stand a good chance,” he added.

Despite the excitement and a hunger to surpass their performances in the 2023 edition when they just failed to make the semi-finals, Brooks emphasized the importance of staying grounded.

“We have a young team short on experience, but we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves; we’ll take it one game at a time. We have the powerhouse in India the first game, and if we are allowed to play our game, we can express ourselves, and you never know—we might just come out on top. But, again, we are just going to take it one game at a time and assess as we go along,” Brooks shared.

Following their opener against India, the West Indies will then cross swords with Sri Lanka on January 21, before closing the group stage against hosts Malaysia on January 23.

Brooks stressed the significance of tournaments like the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup for the growth of women’s cricket in the Caribbean and globally.

“These tournaments are very important for the development of these young ladies. They help players understand the standards expected of them, the level of competition, and what it means to represent their country. They also provide a pathway to the senior team, allowing us to identify who can perform under pressure and make the transition,” he explained.

“So, women’s cricket needs tournaments like these to help further develop the sport. Players are inspired to emulate stars like Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, and Hayley Matthews, which contributes to the growth of female cricket in the region because women cricketers are just as important as their male counterparts,” he noted.

Reflecting on the team’s training camps in Antigua and what they have done so far in Malaysia, Brooks said they have developed a positive momentum as he praised the players’ progress and commitment.

“The fitness level of the girls is improving and peaking at the right time. They’ve been responding well to the work we’ve put in and welcoming the ideas that coach Samuels and I have shared. The intensity is improving, and we’re pleased with their growth over the last five or six months.

“I’m pleased with the ladies’ efforts, their intensity, their willingness to learn, and their improvement every session. But as I said, we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves,” he declared.

Looking ahead to the tournament, Brooks is clear about the team’s goals and expectations.

“We expect these ladies to show positive intent, self-belief, and fight to the very last ball, no matter the situation. They’ve worked on their skills for most of their cricketing lives, and we want them to execute under pressure, show spirit, and give a good account of themselves,” he ended.