Deandra Dottin Returns to West Indies Squad

Deandra Dottin, two years after her unexpected retirement, has rejoined the West Indies squad for the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup in the UAE. Known for her record-breaking century in women's T20Is, Dottin initially retired in 2022, citing a "non-conducive" environment within the West Indies setup. Last month, she reversed her decision with an eye on the World Cup.

Dottin was named in the 15-member squad announced by Cricket West Indies (CWI), which also includes uncapped player Nerissa Crafton. CWI president Kishore Shallow praised the mix of experience and youth in the squad and highlighted the excitement surrounding Dottin's return. He credited Ann Browne-John for her role in convincing Dottin to come out of retirement.

Dottin's recent form in the WCPL 2024 has been impressive, where she was the third-highest run-scorer. Her standout performance was a 53 off 38 balls that led to a Super Over victory for Trinbago Knight Riders.

West Indies head coach Shane Deitz welcomed Dottin back, praising her versatility and impact on the field. Dottin, who retired at 31 with 2697 runs and 62 wickets in 127 T20Is, had continued to play in the T20 circuit but had not been active since September 2023.

The West Indies leadership remains unchanged with Hayley Matthews as captain and Shemaine Campbelle as vice-captain. The team has shown strong form recently, winning series in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The squad includes four changes, with Ashmini Munisar, Dottin, Mandy Mangru, and Crafton replacing Cherry-Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Rashada Williams, and Late Wilmott.

West Indies will begin their World Cup campaign on October 4 in Dubai against South Africa, followed by matches against Scotland, Bangladesh, and England. The top two teams from the group will advance to the semi-finals, with the final scheduled for October 20.