Champions Windies return to big welcome

Champions Windies return to big welcome

Published: Guardian
Thursday, February 18, 2016

West Indies Under-19 captain Shimron Hetmyer and Barbados Sports Minister, Stephen Lashley at the arrival ceremony for the victorious West Indies team at the Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados on Tuesday. WICB Media Photo
BRIDGETOWN - World Under-19 champions West Indies returned to the Caribbean on Tuesday afternoon to a heroes’ welcome, following their triumph last Sunday at the ICC Youth World Cup in Bangladesh.

They were greeted at the Grantley Adams International Airport here by Barbados Cricket Association president and West Indies Cricket Board director, Joel Garner, along with WICB chief executive Michael Murihead.

Legendary West Indies opener Desmond Haynes, Barbados Sports Minister Stephen Lashley and Tourism Minister Richard Sealy also attended the welcome ceremony.

An elated captain Shimron Hetmyer said his side had remained confident despite their sluggish start to the tournament.

“I think the turnaround came after the game against England where we knew we had to win the other games to get through,” the Guyana left-hander said.

“I think after then the guys really got serious and really got down to their stuff and that started in the practice from the next day. The guys then did everything in their power to make sure we won the next couple games and, even in the Zimbabwe game, had had some very positive performances.”

West Indies were whitewashed by Bangladesh in a warm-up three match series before losing their opening match of the tournament to England by 61 runs.

However, they rebounded to crush minnows Fiji by 262 runs before eking out a narrow two-run win over Zimbabwe in controversial circumstances in their final group game, to reach the quarter-finals.

West Indies then produced clinical run chases to beat Pakistan by five wickets and Bangladesh by two wickets in the semi-finals to clinch their spot in the final against previously unbeaten India Under-19s.

Yet again, the strung together a successful chase to win by five wickets chasing a small total of 146.

Manager Dwain Gill said the confidence level in the squad had remained high throughout the tournament and pointed to the warm-up matches as being key to their preparation.

“It feels great of course being part of a World Cup-winning squad as went there to win,” he noted.

“It started off quite challenging with the warm-up matches against Bangladesh but that is the reason we went there – to get acclimatised to the conditions and see the opposition.”

Family members of the Barbados players along with well-wishers were also present to welcome the squad. CMC

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