Curtly Ambrose, the legendary fast-bowler, is expressing confidence in the West Indies team, led by Rovman Powell, ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. Despite their underwhelming performances in the last two editions of the tournament, Ambrose believes that the team possesses enough talent to secure their third T20 World Cup title.
The West Indies team has a strong history in T20 cricket, having won the tournament twice before, in 2012 and 2016. However, their recent performances have been disappointing. In 2021, under the leadership of Kieron Pollard, they failed to progress beyond the group phase, winning just one game. The following year, under Nicholas Pooran’s captaincy in Australia, they also couldn’t advance to the Super Ten stage.
We have a very, very good team- Curtly Ambrose optimistic on West Indies’ chances in T20 WC 2024
Despite their recent struggles in T20 World Cup tournaments, the West Indies team has shown promising form in other formats of the game. Over the past 14 months, they have secured a series of wins against strong opponents like South Africa, India, and England at home.
“We have a very, very good team. As we speak they (West Indies players) are in Antigua at a camp preparing themselves for the start of the T20 World Cup which is a couple of weeks away,” the legendary fast bowler mentioned.
“I believe once the guys start playing consistent cricket and smart cricket, I believe we can take the trophy. It is not going to be easy, but we are one of only two nations to have won it twice so we are going to try and make it three. And no other nation has ever won it on home soil, so all that is motivation for the guys to do well and I am hoping they can do it,” Curtly Ambrose said at the launch of the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York earlier this week.
West Indies have a challenging but potentially favorable group in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Placed in Group C, they will kick off their campaign against Papua New Guinea in Guyana on June 2. Following their opener, the West Indies will face Uganda, New Zealand, and Afghanistan in the rest of their group-stage matches.
Ambrose expressed that:
“I admire a lot of cricketers (at the T20 World Cup) and I am looking forward to them doing well. As a proud Antiguan and being from the West Indies, I want the West Indies to win. It is not going to be easy because in T20 cricket every team has an equal chance of beating any other team and that is just the nature of T20 cricket. It is going to be exciting, but I am going to be rooting for the West Indies,” Curtly Ambrose concluded.