Former West Indies captain Carl Hooper has been appointed as an assistant coach, joining forces with white-ball head coach Daren Sammy for the upcoming three-match ODI series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Hooper, who played 329 international matches for the West Indies over a span of 15 years, brings a wealth of coaching and mentoring experience to the team.
With prior coaching roles at the Adelaide Strikers in Australia’s Big Bash League, as well as with the Antigua Hawksbills and Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League, Hooper’s expertise is highly regarded.
He has also served as a mentor at the West Indies High Performance Centre in Barbados. As an accomplished all-rounder, Hooper amassed over 5,000 runs and took more than 100 wickets in both Tests and ODIs. From 2001 to 2003, he captained the West Indies team in both formats of the game.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the opportunity, Hooper said, “When Daren approached me about this potential role, I immediately confirmed my interest. I’m determined to contribute to the team’s success and bring about a positive change in West Indies Cricket. With my experience and knowledge, I am confident in my ability to make a meaningful impact.”
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Floyd Reifer, a former West Indies international and captain of the Test team in 2009, has also been appointed as an assistant coach for the white-ball format, along with former New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin.
Sammy, the head coach, emphasized the importance of having a dedicated and cohesive team, stating, “Having the right set of people who share your vision is crucial. Our collective goal is to have a positive impact on the players and the overall state of West Indies cricket.”
West Indies will kickstart their preparations for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe with a three-match ODI series against the UAE, commencing on June 04, 2023. The team, led by two-time Men’s Cricket World Cup champions, will compete in Group A of the qualifier.
Their first match will be against the United States on June 18, 2023, followed by matches against the Netherlands, Nepal, and hosts Zimbabwe in the preliminary round. The top two teams from the qualifier will secure their spots in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, set to take place in India later this year.
Meanwhile, the coaching staff for the West Indies Test team remains unchanged, with Andre Coley continuing as the head coach, supported by former internationals Kenny Benjamin, Stuart Williams, and Rayon Griffith as assistants.
