Cricket West Indies (CW) President, Dr. Kishore Shallow, lauded former West Indies Captain Merissa Aguilleira on her remarkable achievement of receiving the prestigious Hummingbird Medal (HBM) Gold Award at the 2024 National Awards of Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday.

Shallow, in extending heartfelt congratulations to Aguilleira on behalf of the CWI Board and Management, pointed out that the recognition is well-deserved.

“Merissa's exemplary dedication and outstanding contributions serve as an inspiration to us all. As she embraces and embarks on other influential roles in cricket, particularly to develop other young athletes, we express our gratitude for her ongoing commitment and wish her continued success,” Shallow said in a release on Wednesday.

The Hummingbird Medal Gold Award is one of Trinidad & Tobago's highest honours, recognising loyal and devoted service beneficial to Trinidad and Tobago, in any field of human endeavour or for gallantry or other humane action. Aguilleira was recognised not only for her immense contributions as a Trinidad and Tobago national to the West Indies team but also for her contributions to the sport on the island.

Despite her retirement in 2019, Aguilleira remains an inspiring figure for aspiring cricketers, particularly women in the sport. Her journey and achievements highlight the growth of women's cricket and the impact of dedicated athletes in challenging traditional norms. As a player and a leader, Aguilleira has left an indelible mark on the game, paving the way for future generations.

She played in over 100 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and captained the West Indies Women from 2009-2015, a period during which she led the team to the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup in India in 2013, and the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s World T20 in 2010, 2012, and 2014, and was part of the 2016 ICC Women’s World T20 winning team in Kolkata.

In her primary role as a wicketkeeper, she has over 100 dismissals in ODI cricket, having recently achieved the magical three figures during the home series against South Africa Women in September 2018. Additionally, she has over 70 dismissals in T20 internationals (T20Is) from the 95 matches she has played.

Having made her ODI debut against the Netherlands Women in July of 2008 and her T20I debut against South Africa in June of 2009, she played 112 ODI matches, amassing 1752 runs at an average of 20.61 and 95 T20Is, scoring 768 runs at an average of 14.49.

In 2023, CWI Vice President, Azim Bassarath and former West Indies two-time world champion Samuel Badree also received the Hummingbird Medal Gold Award.

The region’s best Under-19 women’s cricketers will assemble in Trinidad for the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s U19s Rising Stars T20 Championship, with matches being played from Tuesday, July 5 to Wednesday, July 13, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) and the Diego Martin Sporting Complex (DMSC).

The six regional franchise teams will be participating, as well as the United States of America Women’s U19s team.

At the end of the tournament, a West Indies Women’s U19s Rising Stars squad will be selected for a proposed international U19 series against the United States in Lauderhill, Florida in early August.

Additionally, players will be looking to put in strong performances in order to be considered for selection for the inaugural ICC Women’s U19 World Cup in South Africa, scheduled for January 2023.

Several of the franchise squads feature players who have had experience at the senior regional or international level.

Trishan Holder and Naijanni Cumberbatch recently competed for Barbados in the T20 Blaze and CG United Super50 Cup, as well as Ashmini Munisar for Guyana and Djenaba Joseph for Trinidad & Tobago. The Windward Islands are in a unique position as two of their players have been part of the West Indies Women’s Senior team and A teams in the past year.

Jannellia Glasgow was a travelling reserve with the team to South Africa and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, while skipper Zaida James was a member of the West Indies Women’s A Team that hosted Pakistan Women’s A team in 2021.

”The inaugural ICC U19 Women's World Cup in South Africa 2023 is a significant global event in the continued pathway development of women's cricket. This event will provide an opportunity for girls to develop and showcase their skills,” said Lead Women Selector Anne Browne-John.

“This year's U19s Rising Stars tournament is an important step towards this goal. It will not only provide an opportunity for players to be part of West Indies Women’s history as we prepare for the World Cup, but also present a wider pool of Rising Stars to be developed to ensure a bright future for the senior West Indies Women’s team.”

Tournament Director and former West Indies Women’s captain Merissa Aguilleira said the tournament will be key to exposing talent at the international level.

“This tournament is very important knowing that we have the first ever ICC Women’s U19 World Cup next year in South Africa to look forward to. Exposing this pool of players to the international level will feed into the senior players’ pool, which is currently small, ultimately leading to an improvement of competitiveness for spots on the West Indies Women’s team,” Aguilleira said.

”The players are excited to start the competition, they’ve been very enthusiastic about the tournament. The addition of Team USA will add healthy competition for the regional teams. I am happy to see USA cricket making this investment in women’s cricket and must commend CWI for inviting them as part of their continued wider long-term strategic partnership.”

Meanwhile, USA Cricket Board Member and Women and Girls Committee Chair, Nadia Gruny said her country is thrilled to be participating in the tournament.

“We’re very excited that our U19s are a part of the U19s Rising Stars T20 Championship as part of our preparation for the first ever U19 Women’s World Cup in South Africa, which is only six months away now,” she said.

“We’re happy to continue building on our strong relationship with Cricket West Indies. Our USA men have enjoyed participation in CWI’s regional competitions in the past and we’re pleased that for the very first time, we’re able to provide this opportunity to our young women at this time.”

The CWI Women’s U19s Rising Stars tournament is part of CWI’s “Summer of Cricket” featuring matches at all levels from June to September. The event will see three matches per venue each day, at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex starting at 9:30 am (8:30 am Jamaica Time) and at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy starting at 10 am (9 am Jamaica Time) and 2:30 pm (1:30 pm Jamaica Time). LIVE ball-by-ball scoring of each game will be available through the www.windiescricket.com match centre. CWI will be live streaming two featured matches per day via the Windies Cricket YouTube channel.

FULL SQUADS

BARBADOS: Trishan Holder (Captain), Elecia Bowman, Eboni Brathwaite, Gleneisha Cadogan, Asabi Callender, Zaliya Campbell, Dicoreya Collymore, Naijanni Cumberbatch, Erin Deane, Theanny Herbert-Mayers, Solange Holford, Krisanne Howell, Camia Matthew-Brome, Nia Wood.

GUYANA: Ashmini Munisar (Captain), Realeanna Grimmond, Sarah Amin, Naomi Barkoye, Melanie Dover, Niveena Ramnauth, Lavina Ragobeer, Leah Kamalall, Crystal Durant, Trisha Hardat, Lakshmi Mahadeo, Darshanie Subramanie, Jamie Campbell, Cyanna Retemiah

JAMAICA: Jaunel Deers (Captain), Brianna Plummer, Kerry-Ann Spencer, Tianna Samuels, Tasha-Gaye Gordon, Kimarie Campbell, Kate Wilmot, Kade Wilmot, Chrishana McKenzie, Breanna Gordon, Judeen Ebanks, Lena Scott, Gabrielle Bryan, Aneisha Miller.

LEEWARD ISLANDS: Latchmi Cyril (Captain), Kimberly Anthony, Shelliqua Carmichael, Berniecia Huggins, Jahzara Claxton, Trishanie Warner, Sarah Ghandeo, J’Cazenique Hodge, Carlisa Pluck, Gabrielle Harrylall, Johanna Humphreys, Ruchira Daly, Sheanna Wallace, Courtney Browne.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Shalini Samaroo, Ameila Khan, Aniaya Roberts, Arianne Neaves, Djenaba Joseph, KD Jazz Mitchell, Katrina Ruben, Kenika Cassar, Kiara Ruben, Kirah Manpaul, Maria La Foucade, Samara Ramnath, Shunelle Sawh, Zakiyah Harrilal.

USA: Geetika Kodali (Captain), Anika Kolan, Chetnaa Prasad, Bhumika Bhadriraju, Disha Dhingra, Isani Vaghela, Jivana Aras, Laasya Mullapudi, Lisa Ramjit, Mitali Patwardhan, Suhani Thadani, Snigdha Paul, Tya Gonsalves, Sai Tanmayi Eyyunni.

WINDWARD ISLANDS: Zaida James (Captain), Selena Ross, Destiny Edward, Namiah Marcellin, Crisa Smith, Neisha Cherry, Natalia Philip. Abini St. Jean, Earnisha Fontaine, Britney Pascal, Jannellia Glasgow, Shey-Ann Gaynes, Denella Creese, Nesha Alexander.

FULL MATCH SCHEDULE

Tuesday, July 5

Guyana vs Barbados at Diego Martin Sporting Complex – 9:30 am

Jamaica vs USA at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 10 am

Leeward Islands vs Trinidad & Tobago at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 2:30 pm

Wednesday, July 6

Windward Islands vs the USA at Diego Martin Sporting Complex - 9:30am

Leeward Islands vs Guyana at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 10 am

Trinidad & Tobago vs Barbados at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 2:30 pm

Friday, July 8

The Leeward Islands vs the Windward Islands at Diego Martin Sporting Complex – 9:30am

Barbados vs the USA at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 10 am

Jamaica vs Guyana at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 2:30 pm

Saturday, July 9

Jamaica vs Trinidad & Tobago at Diego Martin Sporting Complex – 9:30 am

Leeward Islands vs the USA at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 10 am

Windward Islands vs Barbados at Brian Lara Cricket Academy - 2:30 pm

Sunday, July 10

Leeward Islands vs Jamaica at Diego Martin Sporting Complex – 9:30am

Monday, July 11

Leeward Islands vs Barbados at Diego Martin Sporting Complex – 9:30am

Windward Islands vs Jamaica at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 10 am

Guyana vs Trinidad & Tobago at Brian Lara Cricket Academy - 2:30 pm

Tuesday, July 12

Guyana vs the USA at Diego Martin Sporting Complex - 9:30 am,

Jamaica vs Barbados at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 10 am

Windward Islands vs Trinidad & Tobago at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 2:30 pm

Wednesday, July 13

Trinidad & Tobago vs the USA at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 10 am

Guyana vs the Windward Islands at Brian Lara Cricket Academy – 2:30 pm