Shai Hope who is considered as one of the best ODI batsmen in the contemporary world has been named as the ODI captain of the West Indies cricket team. Nicholas Pooran has stepped down as skipper in both white-ball formats after the West Indies’ early exit at November’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Hope Named As West Indies ODI Captain
Hope has played 104 times for West Indies in ODI cricket, vice-captaining the side on a number of occasions. And his excellent individual performances earned him a place in the ICC ODI Team of the Year for 2022.
An official statement reads: Shai Hope will replace him as the captain of the One Day International team, with a Cricket World Cup on the horizon later this year if West Indies are able to qualify.
“It is a tremendous honour and privilege to be appointed captain of any West Indies team. To lead a team that is of such incredible significance not only to myself and my teammates but to our legion of fans the world over, is something one dreams of as a child. The rich history and legacy that our region and our brand of cricket is so famous and loved for, requires no intricate explanation,” said Hope.
“I would like to thank CWI for entrusting me with this immense opportunity. To navigate West Indies cricket in the right direction will be my fundamental priority and a task that I shall be unwaveringly committed to. With the support of my team-mates and our dedicated fans, I look forward to a long and fulfilling tenure as captain of the West Indies One-Day International team,” he added.
Shai Hope made his international debut for the West Indies in May 2015 while in June 2018, he was named the Men’s Cricketer of the Year, Test Cricketer of the Year and the ODI Cricketer of the Year at the annual Cricket West Indies’ Awards. The following year, he was named the ODI Player of the Year.
In 104 ODI matches, Shai Hope scored 4308 runs at an average of 48.95 which includes 13 centuries and 21 half-centuries. His highest ODI score of 170 came against Ireland at Dublin in May 2019.
